Launched in September 2015, the Renault Kwid has caused quite a sensation in the entry-level hatchback segment. The hatchback breached one lakh domestic sales milestone in November 2016. With Kwid, Renault achieved 98% localisation levels, which is highest ever done by any global car manufacturer in the country. Now, it has been over a year, the Kwid has been enjoying the dominance in its respective segment.
To commemorate the first anniversary of the “Make-in-India” Kwid, Renault embarked on a historic drive from Delhi to Paris. During this epic drive of 45 days, the hatchback voyaged through 13 countries covering 18,996kms. Facing the extreme climatic conditions, the Kwid passed through Myanmar, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Belgium, until it finally entered France.
The drive began from India Gate in Delhi, and crossed areas with sub-zero temperatures, snow-clad roads, monsoons with heavy rains and floods and places without traversable roads. Besides all these odds, the Renault Kwid managed to go through with a top speed of 174kmph at autobhans in Germany.
Commenting on this iconic drive, Mr. Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, “Today, Renault KWID is one of the biggest ‘Make in India’ success stories out of India in the small car segment, making Renault one of the fastest growing automotive brands in India. Renault has already started the exports of Renault KWID to SAARC and African countries, taking the excellence of Indian manufacturing and engineering to the world. The Delhi – Paris drive was conceptualized to celebrate the success of this car and to highlight its superiority and reliability, testing it in the most challenging driving conditions. Such drives are usually done with much bigger and more powerful cars, but the KWID has once again proven that it truly a game changer and a car of global repute.”
“Our roadmap for India is very clear and we have a long term commitment to this market. Together with our product portfolio expansion strategy, as is reinforced by strengthening the KWID portfolio, we are also significantly increasing our sales and network reach in India. These efforts are matched by a clear strategy to enhance the customer brand experience, with several unique and pioneering initiatives already underway to ensure that customers’ have an unparalleled experience with the Renault brand,” he further added.
Rahul Kakkar, a drive enthusiast who led the team of drivers for this mammoth drive, shares, “We were confident of completing the drive, however there was a definite apprehension especially considering we were to cover a massive distance of 19,000kilometers! KWID is an entry level hatchback, and such cars are more suited for city commutes, designed for Indian conditions and not freezing cold weather. However, KWID came out trumps in the most challenging conditions, and there was not even a puncture through the drive. The car reached Paris in pristine condition and looked like a brand new car, fresh from the showroom.”
