SEPTEMBER 23, 2003

A new plan for Renault

Renault is aiming to blow away the opposition in the developing markets of the world with a car which will cost only $5,500. The X90 project is aimed at countries where automobiles are too expensive for the majority of the population.

Pierre-Alain de Smedt, Renault's executive vice-president in charge of manufacturing, said in an interview with Automotive News Europe that Renault can manufacture the car for around $3500 which leaves a sufficient margin for marketing, distribution and profit. The project will only really be successful if the cars are sold in very large numbers but with markets such as India and China having a combined population of 2.3 billion people this may be a very smart move.

The advertising provided by Formula 1 would obviously be helpful in selling the new cars.