M&M set to export range to Renault

Russian plant by march

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has begun talks with French automaker Renault and plans to have an assembly unit in Russia by March, an official of the Indian utility and commercial vehicle maker said Thursday.

"We are talking to Renault to export our entire range of vehicles," said P N Shah, Mahindra's vice president, overseas operations.

Mahindra's exports would include light commercial vehicles and utility vehicles. "But, primarily, it would be the Bolero and Scorpio," he said.

At present, Mahindra uses a Renault petrol engine to power the Scorpio.

Shah said an alliance with Renault would benefit both companies: Renault dealers would have more products to sell, while Mahindra can access overseas markets via the French company's worldwide presence.

Within the next two months, Mahindra also hopes to launch its Bolero and Scorpio utility vehicles in West Asia markets such as United Arab Emirates, Doha and Muscat, Shah said.

Mahindra has identified Europe, South and Central America and Africa as its major export markets.

"Our exports this year will be substantial," he said. In the year ended March, Mahindra exported 1,600 vehicles.

To set up an assembly unit in Russia, Mahindra plans to tie up with a local partner. The plant would assemble utility-vehicles for sale in countries belonging to the grouping Commonwealth of Independent States such as Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan.

"We should be setting up the facility by the end of this fiscal," he said.