India-made Renault Kwid launches in South Africa in November - Report

Will be priced and positioned below the Renault Sandero.

South Africa's Engineering News reports that the Renault Kwid will have its market launch in the country in the first week of November 2016. The publication was told by Renault SA's CEO Nicholas de Canha that the Kwid will arrive in early-November or in early-2017 should demand persist in India.

Renault India will export the Kwid from its Oragadam facility in Tamil Nadu. Production of the Kwid in India is at full capacity, owing to high demand for the entry-level hatchback. Last month, sales of the Renault Kwid breached past the 10,000 mark for the first time, while sales data for the current calendar year reveal the Kwid accounts for 75 percent of Renault India's sales.

In South Africa, the Renault Kwid will be priced and positioned below the Renault Sandero, the current entry-level model in Renault SA's range. The Sandero is priced from 147,900 South African Rand (INR 7.14 lakhs).

The Renault Kwid is currently available with two engine options in the Indian market - a three-cylinder 54 PS 799 cc petrol engine and a three-cylinder 68 PS 999 cc petrol engine. Though both engines are paired to a 5-speed manual transmission, the larger 999 cc unit will receive an automated manual transmission (Easy-R AMT) in the coming weeks.

Also read: India-bound 2016 Renault Koleos launched in Malaysia

In terms of safety features, the Renault Kwid offers an optional driver airbag and front seat belts with pretensioners. However, a recent crash test carried out by the Global NCAP rated the Kwid's safety standards as poor, and awarded the small car 1/5 stars.

[Source - EngineeringNews]