It would be a massive investment with Duster: Francisco Hidalgo, Renault India

Renault India is pressing the reset button and at the centre of that reset is an old name with a new ambition – the new Renault Duster, marking the return of a nameplate to the burgeoning mid-size SUV category in the country. Francisco Hidalgo, Vice President – Sales and Marketing at Renault India, makes it clear that the all-new Duster is not the final piece of the company’s “Rethink” strategy - It is the starting point.

The new Duster retains its rugged, adventure-ready character while upgrading design, comfort, safety and the Renault Forever program for an improved ownership experience, signalling the start of Renault’s renewed product cycle in India. What’s specifically calls for attention is an advanced strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 powered by 1.8L engine, and 1.4 KWH battery, a first in India. 

“The Duster doesn’t complete the ‘Renault Rethink’ strategy. It starts the strategy,” Hidalgo reiterates, underlining the symbolic and strategic weight the SUV carries for the French automaker in India. ‘Renault Rethink’ strategy is focussed on the brand being local, "Design in India" brand, supported by a ₹5,400 crore investment with new launches and a focus on premium, tech-focused SUV.

The Duster You Know, But The Story You Don’t.

More than just a vehicle, Renault Duster became part of Indian families, earning timeless appeal since its debut. The story began two years earlier, when the failure of the Renault Logan taught the company the importance of understanding Indian consumers. Renault studied 30 families across five cities for two months, leading to 41 modifications to tailor the European Duster for India and then launched the SUV launched across nine cities in July 2012.

It exceeded expectations, winning accolades such as the Indian Car of the Year 2012 and many other prestigious Industry awards, with Renault earned Car Manufacturer of the Year. Within a year, it captured 23% market share, represented 86% of production, 81% of sales, and 100% of exports, prompting Renault to triple production to meet soaring demand.

However, Renault India did hit a bumpy road post that. Hidalgo described the brand’s recent years as a pause rather than a decline. “Renault has been hibernating for a few years. We didn’t launch new cars for a few years,” he said.

 After a few years of absence from the market, the company wanted to return decisively. That’s where ‘Renault Rethink’ strategy came in to strengthen its position under "International Game Plan 2027” with the variants launches of Renault Triber in July, Renault Kiger in August and Renault Kwid in September. “We really felt that we needed to come back strong in India,” he said.

For Hidalgo, the Rethink strategy is about a fundamental shift in approach. “Rethink is about looking at the way we approach business in India and being very clear about it,” he said. His message was blunt: “In India, you cannot go halfway. Either you go full power or just don’t go. We are going full power.”

That commitment began with acquiring the Chennai plant and opening Renault’s largest design centre outside France in India. So far, this has been working for the French multinational automobile as the refreshed variants helped restart momentum. As the refreshed products reached consumers across markets, Renault India reported a strong sales acceleration in the second half of CY2025. The company recorded 18.2% year-on-year growth in H2 CY2025, with Q4 sales growing by 27.3%, with December 2025 selling 3,845 units, marking a 33.4% increase over December 2024.

The company started 2026 on a positive note, achieving a 33.6% year-on-year growth in January delivering 3,715 units, up from 2,780 units compared to January 2025. And, it is in this background that Renault Duster makes its entry back in the country.

Hidalgo says that though their cars were off the road for a while, the customer affection endured. “We always felt the love for the brand was still there. It was sleeping, it was just a little bit forgotten.” The response to the refreshed versions of Triber and Kiger reinforced that belief. “The reaction has been fantastic. That confirms our thoughts that there’s high expectation and high demand.”

With the Duster’s return, he expects the momentum to accelerate. Asked whether growth would surpass last year’s second half, Hidalgo responded confidently: “For sure.”

The Comeback of an Icon

The original Duster was more than just a successful product for Renault. It was a segment creator that reshaped India’s SUV market. Calling it an “iconic car in India,” Hidalgo acknowledges the pressure that comes with reviving a beloved nameplate. “There is not a better way to show to everybody that Renault is back,” he said. “The amount of expectation around this car is huge. The original Duster was very appreciated, very popular and created the SUV segment.” That legacy makes the comeback both exciting and risky. “It’s a big responsibility,” Hidalgo admitted, adding that Renault wanted to “come with something that would show that Renault is very serious about India.”

The new Duster is built on a brand-new platform that will underpin future Renault models in the country. “The new platform is going to allow us to develop a lot of models in the future,” he explained. On the powertrain front, the SUV introduces the Turbo 160 engine and, for the first time in India for Renault, a strong hybrid 160. “We are bringing the strongest hybrid in the market with the biggest battery.” Hidalgo said. Highlighting Renault’s global expertise, he added, “Renault is a leader in Europe in hybrid with the best hybrid technology in the market. So, bringing it to India for us is a big pride.”

“The Best Duster Globally”

Renault’s global leadership has described the India-spec Duster as the best Duster worldwide. Hidalgo said that message reflects the seriousness of Renault’s renewed India focus.

“Duster is a global icon, not only in India. It’s an icon in Europe, South America, Russia,” he noted. “This iteration has the best powertrain, the best platform, the best hybrid.” He also highlighted India-exclusive features. “It has features that do not exist in any other Duster in the world such as the electric power tailgate, all-opening sunroof, Google built-in. These features only exist here in India.”

Marketing: Building a Relationship, Not Just Noise

Renault plans a high-visibility campaign spanning television, digital platforms and cricket properties. But Hidalgo emphasised that the communication will not be purely tactical.

“When you launch a car like the Duster, you are everywhere  on TV, in cricket, in digital,” he said. “But it’s not going to be tactical communication.” Instead, the focus will be on values. “It’s about driving. At the end of the day, a car is made for driving, for enjoying the drive, for sharing the moment.”

Renault also plans to revive the “Gang of Dusters,” a community of owners that organically formed during the model’s earlier run. “Many people are still writing to us, ‘When are you bringing back Duster? When are you bringing back the Gang of Dusters?’ We are bringing back Duster into the conversation.”

On media investments, while Hidalgo declined to provide exact figures, he was clear about intent. “Compared to last year, it’s going to be significantly bigger. You cannot launch a Duster and be shy with it.”

Despite limited launches in recent years, Renault’s dealer network stayed intact. “Our network stayed with us. And they’ve all been waiting for Duster,” Hidalgo said. “They saw the car a few months ago. They knew it was coming.” Renovations and coverage expansion are already underway with the company heavily investing in its dealership network.” The strategy also extends to customer relationships. “We are launching with a seven-year warranty and our Renault Forever programme,” he said, describing it as part of rethinking how the brand connects with buyers.

While Pre-bookings for the new-generation Renault Duster are currently open, the prices of the SUV will be reveled on March 17, 2026 with customer deliveries for the petrol variants are scheduled to begin in April 2026.

Technology, AI and Practical Innovation

On technology, Hidalgo emphasised usefulness over spectacle. Using an augmented reality app as an example, he explained how customers can visualise the car in their own space and share it with friends. “In India, people like to share, to show their car to their neighbours and friends. This technology is what’s useful to people,” he said.

Artificial intelligence is being deployed for personalised customer interactions and information delivery. “It’s all about useful technology, not just flashy and shiny,” he added.

While speculation about an EV persists, Renault’s immediate focus is on hybrid technology. “Electrification is definitely a strong point of Renault,” Hidalgo said. “But let’s just stay with this hybrid for the moment. We will talk about pure EVs in the future.”

For now, Renault’s bet is clear: a strong hybrid-powered Duster, backed by heavy investment, renewed brand ambition and a full-power commitment to India. And if Hidalgo’s confidence is any indication, this is only the beginning.