Talk about a complementary strategy: following a report on the launch of the Datsun GO and GO+ in Indonesia, Nissan’s alliance partner Renault has announced plans to launch its namesake brand on the same market.
Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn and Jusak Kertowidjojo, President Director, PT Indomobil Sukses International, Tbk, signed a partnership agreement to launch Renault on the Indonesian market.
The first model that Renault will introduce in the country is the Duster SUV, which will be locally assembled by Indomobil. The Duster will be available in Indonesia with the 1.5-liter dCi diesel engine, an important choice in a country where fuel economy is one of the top buying criteria.
Renault will also sell the more upscale Koleos SUV and the Megane RS hot-hatch in Indonesia, with the three models expected to build the brand’s image in the country. Indomobil, Nissan’s partner in Indonesia since 1981, will build 45 Renault showrooms by 2016.
The announcement is just a first step in Renault’s plans for Indonesia, as the French carmaker also wants to bring tailor-made products for localized assembly starting in 2015. It will be interesting to see whether these products will compete in any way with Datsun, which recently showed the GO+, a model developed specifically for Indonesia.
With a population of 250 million and a market of 1,100,000 new cars last year (+25 percent), Indonesia is currently the fastest-growing economy in South East Asia. With only 36 vehicles per 1,000 residents, it is also one of the most promising automobile markets in the world.
By Dan Mihalascu
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