CEO of the Renault Group Luca de Meo praised the Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre India (RNTBCI) for its increasing significance, referring to it as “one of the wheels of our system” from a technical standpoint.
Luca de Meo stated, “RNTBCI is starting to become, from an engineering point of view, one of the wheels of our system,” expressing his admiration for the company’s extensive role in creating important projects, such as the renowned Renault 5. The new Renault 5’s development apparently started at RNTBCI, at least in part. Additionally, the centre was crucial to the creation of Nissan’s next tiny electric car. De Meo anticipated that RNTBCI will make a significant contribution to the next Renault 4, which is anticipated to be launched in Paris later this year.
RNTBCI, the third-largest automotive vehicle development base in the country boasting a workforce of over 10,000, positions itself as a leader in artificial intelligence, machine learning, electric vehicles, cloud computing, and a range of advanced technologies. The company claims expertise in digital twins, product engineering, augmented reality/virtual reality, process engineering, simulation, software-defined vehicles, connectivity, autonomous driving, data analytics, and quality control. This comprehensive technical proficiency positions RNTBCI as a major automotive vehicle development hub in India, the third-largest in the country.
The arm in India has already worked on key global projects for both Renault and Nissan for models such as the Renault 5, Renault Scenic, Renault Spring, and Nissan X-Trail, including the electrified powertrains of the Nissan E-Note (powered by E-Power) and Nissan Leaf. So far, it has designed, engineered, and delivered over 13 models for the Indian market over the last decade and a half, and it has already kicked off work on half a dozen models for the Indian market—2 SUVs and 1 EV—each for both Renault and Nissan in the country.
Luca de Meo emphasized, “We’re now looking at ways to connect this team (RNTBCI) even more with our global operations. They already contribute to projects in Latin America, Europe, and North America, and we want to expand their reach even further” . “Our focus now is on maximizing its potential. My entire team is here in Chennai to explore how we can integrate RNTBCI more deeply into Renault’s core projects. We expect Nissan to be developing similar plans.”
Furthermore, highlighting the competencies of the RNTBCI, the top executive added, ” We understood that the team here at all levels has a very high level of competence. So we have a team that knows what it is talking about and knows how to do the job. That of course gives us a huge advantage and this is a huge asset.”