Renault, Nissan, Volkswagen And Honda Will Double Sales Next Year: Here Is How
The Indian automotive industry is currently in a very promising phase. Demand remains strong across segments, and buyer demographies. Over the past few months, we have seen several exciting new launches that brought fresh momentum to the market. The trend is expected to continue. In fact, a number of carmakers are plotting plans to make their sales boom, possibly double over the next one year. Here are four examples.
Renault, on March 17, launched the all-new Duster- the first product and probably the most important part in its comeback plan. The mid-size SUV has generated massive interest among buyers. If things go as planned, we will soon see it rising to acceptance and help the carmaker rack up volumes.
The Duster holds strong brand recall in India. Plus, the carmaker has planned, packaged and priced it well. The chances of success are thus high. The company seems to have a multi-pathway approach. At launch, the Duster has two turbocharged petrol engines- 1.0L and 1.3L turbo. Around Diwali, the new Duster will get a strong hybrid version as well. Renault is taking things seriously this time.
Beyond Duster, the company plans to launch at least two interesting products. One is the Bridger, a sub-compact SUV with compact proportions and a butch stance. It is expected to come with petrol, hybrid and all-electric powertrain options. Another product that has already been announced is a three-row mid-size SUV based on the Duster platform. This is likely to be called the Boreal on launch and will likely be an adaptation of the Bigster sold abroad.
Renault’s new RGMP platform plays a key role in shaping the success of these products here. It is a versatile modular platform that can form the base of everything from say, the Bridger to the seven-seater SUV.
On the business front, the Duster itself will bring good volumes. The Bridger, expected to be out in late 2027, has already generated massive interest among buyers. The production form will enter a highly competitive space and will become successful as well. A similar story is expected with the three-row SUV as well.
Renault sold 37762 units in the calendar year 2025. If things go as planned, crossing 75,000 units next year may not be beyond reach.
Nissan’s story is similar to that of Renault. Until recently, the Magnite used to be its only bread-and-butter model. In February this year, the company launched the Gravite MPV. It can be seen as the first step in its comeback journey. Last year, the company posted sales of 22,604 units in India. Doubling sales would mean achieving over 45,000 units.
The launch of the Tekton mid-size SUV will be the next step towards achieving this. The Tekton will be Nissan’s version of the new Duster. It will likely have identical packaging and market placement. Ideally, the Tekton will be able to replicate the Duster’s success in the Indian market. Going forward, the company will also launch a three-row mid-size SUV to further strengthen its foothold in India.
Volkswagen sold 39137 in the calender year 2025. These numbers include the first batch of Gold GTis that got sold out like hot cakes. The company’s present portfolio consists of the Virtus, Taigun, Tiguan R Line and the recently-launched Tayron R-Line.
Volkswagen plans to double its sales by pumping more appeal into their best-sellers- the Virtus and Taigun. This will be done by introducing mid-life updates (facelifts) on these. Both these models have been around for quite some time. Facelifts will bring notable design changes and feature additions, and keep them fresh. Powertrain changes remain unlikely, except for the addition of a new 8-speed automatic transmission.
The bigger, more important pathway is by rolling out their own version of the hot-selling Skoda Kylaq. The Kylaq has been a big hit in the Indian market and is the current best-seller for VW’s sister brand, Skoda. Belonging to a segment with high footfalls and aggressive pricing are the key reasons behind its success. If VW goes by the same playbook, volumes would shoot up in no time. Such a model can actually be seen by many as the spiritual successor to the iconic Polo here.
Honda now has five models on sale in India- second-generation Amaze, new Amaze, City, City e:HEV and the Elevate. It managed to sell 68310 units last year. The carmaker is plotting an aggressive growth plan for the coming year. It will bring a slew of new models including an electric SUV to the Indian soil in the coming years.
These will include both mass-market models and expensive CBUs. The City sedan is expected to get a facelift this year- the second facelift to the outgoing generation. Additionally, we will also see the launch of a hybrid Elevate, ZR-V hybrid SUV, Prelude coupe and 0 Alpha EV in the next one year time. Together, these will likely make the carmaker’s volume double. Achieving over 1.36 lakh yearly sales may be tough, but not impossible.