In the face of growing demand for SUVs, french major Renault is betting big on multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) and will soon launch a new variant of Lodgy Stepway, focusing on the fleet segment.
The company is close to launch a new variant of its once successful MPV, Lodgy Stepway, at an introductory price of Rs 9.43 lakh. The souped-up version comes with 16 new enhancements, superior performance, comfort, safety, space and better fuel efficiency.
Our optimism to strike it big again comes from the fact that nobody is investing in MPV space today on one hand, and on the other we are a world class product at a highly affordable price. So, we hope to benefit from these two factors, Sumit Sawhney, CEO and MD Renault India, told PTI.
The under Rs 10 lakh pricing will too difficult to ignore as the market leader Innova Crysta from Toyota comes at more than the double the new Lodgy, while the number 2 player Maruti’s Ertiga is also nearly 50 per cent dearer for a top-end model.
Despite this, Innova still has more than a month waiting period and continues to rule the segment with five-digit monthly sales.
Renault launched Lodgy in April 2015 at an introductory price of Rs 8.19 lakh but today a top model comes at over Rs 16 lakh. In the international market this is sold as the Dacia Lodgy.
From a pricing point, it seems the once second largest player Lodgy can make a successful comeback. After all its existing customers are also very happy with the product due to its durability, low ownership cost and higher mileage, said a Renualt dealer.
The 1.5-liter new Lodgy comes in five variants and offers 7 & 8 seater options and is mounted on a first-in-segment 6-speed manual transmission and offers 21.04 kmpl.
The new Lodgy range has the longest wheel base with best-in-class interior space and roominess in all three rows. It also offers ABS and EBD and brake assist system for better control in emergency braking situations, the company claims.
Sawhney admitted that his plans are ambitious as the MPV market has nearly crashed and has given way to sub-4-meter SUVs and crossovers.
At the peak, Lodgy used to notch up more than 1,000 units a month, but has almost halved now, Sawhney, who launched the Tavera from the GM stable in the domestic market, said.