French auto company Renault SA will be using its partner Nissan’s small car platform to develop its own compact car in India. Renault has suffered major losses in the past year, and a readymade platform will help it cut down on the development costs of its new car. Both Renault’s and Nissan’s small cars will roll out of the companies’ under-construction manufacturing plant in Chennai. They may even share the same engine, with changes in the power output.

The Chennai plant is being built as a joint venture between the two companies, known as Renault Nissan Automotive India (RNAIPL). Once complete, it will have an annual production capacity of 4 lakh units. Nissan’s 5-seater small car will be ready by the middle of next year, and the company will roll out three different cars built on the same platform by 2012. On the other hand, it is not certain if Renault’s car built on the same platform will be a hatchback or a sedan or both.

Cars in India that currently share the same platform include Maruti’s Swift and Ritz, Mahindra’s Scorpio and Xylo, Honda’s City and Jazz and Maruti’s Zen Estilo and Wagon R.

Courtesy: www.driveinside.com