The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
CHENNAI, APRIL 23, 2025
In a landmark move that signals a bold new chapter for the French carmaker in one of the world’s most dynamic automotive markets, Renault India has officially inaugurated its state-of-the-art Renault Design Centre in Chennai. The launch marks the commencement of its ambitious and forward-thinking strategy, renault. rethink, a comprehensive transformation blueprint that positions India at the heart of Renault’s global vision.
With the unveiling of the Chennai Design Centre, Renault has deepened its commitment to India — not only as a production powerhouse, but now as a cradle of design and innovation. The facility is poised to become a cornerstone of the brand’s evolving identity, spearheading a design-first approach that reflects the complexities, aspirations, and uniqueness of Indian consumers. This evolution represents more than an infrastructure milestone; it is a cultural shift, reinforcing Renault’s dedication to local insight, creative excellence, and global synergy.
Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer of Renault Group, described India as a “highly unique and locally driven” market, emphasizing that the new design studio would enable Renault to deeply engage with local sensibilities. He stressed that the Design Centre will focus on crafting models tailored specifically to Indian needs, while also contributing to global projects, all from its strategic location within the RNTBCI (Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India) ecosystem.
Renault’s presence in India, which began in 2005, is now entering an era of design-led transformation. The renault. rethink initiative signals a recalibration of brand purpose, with innovation, localization, and customer-centricity at its core. As Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO and Managing Director of Renault India Operations, declared, the company is proud to be “the most Indian of European carmakers,” with robust R&D capabilities, a deeply localized supply chain, and now, one of the largest design centres in the country.
This new creative hub spans 1,500 square meters and is equipped with a suite of next-generation technologies designed to foster experimentation and imagination. From immersive 3D exhibition environments and high-resolution virtual reality systems to expansive LED walls and collaborative brainstorming zones, every corner of the facility has been meticulously curated to inspire innovation. The design philosophy — Tactile Confluence — harmonizes European minimalism with vibrant Indian culture, resulting in an environment that encourages both introspection and collective ideation.
At the symbolic center of this transformation is the renault. rethink sculpture—a high-tech conceptual artwork that not only anchors the new studio but encapsulates the company’s evolving ethos. Designed by Indian designers, the sculpture is a luminous emblem of emergence, disruption, and perpetual evolution. With fragmented surfaces and an inner core that radiates light, it visually narrates Renault’s readiness to shape and adapt to the future of mobility in India. It is more than a visual statement—it is a declaration that Renault is not just here, but here to transform.
This launch also coincides with Renault’s strongest financial performance to date, with 2024 revenue soaring to €56.2 billion and operating profit reaching a historic €4.3 billion. The timing of this move underlines the Group’s strategic confidence in India as a key market for long-term growth and innovation. The Chennai centre is expected to significantly accelerate Renault’s International Game Plan 2027, a roadmap that aims to redefine Renault’s positioning and product offerings for the Indian customer.
By anchoring design, development, and manufacturing within India, Renault is establishing a blueprint for modern automotive collaboration—one that fuses global expertise with local excellence. As the renault. rethink strategy unfolds, India is no longer just a market for Renault — it is the engine of its global creative resurgence.
