The India-EU trade deal is already a game-changer for automakers—and Renault is among the first to embrace it. Just hours before officials finalized the agreement, Fabrice Cambolive, Renault’s Chief Growth Officer, said the closer ties between Europe and India would strengthen the company’s commitment to both regions.
Under the new India-EU trade deal, import tariffs on European cars will drop right away from 110% to 30–35%. Over time, they will fall further to just 10%. As a result, major European brands like Renault, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW stand to benefit significantly. Moreover, the deal will eliminate tariffs on imported auto parts from Europe within five to ten years. This will make it easier for companies to streamline their supply chains across continents.
“For us, this is good news,” Cambolive told Reuters in Chennai. “Strategically, it shows Europe and India are working closer together.” He went on to stress that Renault has invested heavily in both markets. “We’re kind of an Indian and European company,” he added, pointing to the brand’s strong local presence and long-term vision.
In fact, Renault isn’t just reacting to policy—it’s actively seizing opportunity. Just one day before the trade announcement, the company relaunched its best-selling Duster SUV in India. Clearly, Renault sees the world’s third-largest car market as a key growth engine outside Europe.
Cambolive also noted that exporting from Europe to India matters—but so does the reverse flow. “India can play a big role in building cars and parts for Europe,” he explained. With skilled workers, growing manufacturing capacity, and competitive costs, India could soon become a strategic export hub for Renault’s global operations.
He admitted that India hadn’t been Renault’s top priority over the past four years. “But that will change,” he said. Why? Because of the deepening partnership between the two regions, the strength of Renault’s local team, and the market’s rapid growth potential. And of course, the India-EU trade deal itself is a major catalyst.
Thanks to this agreement, Renault now sees a clearer and more profitable path forward. Lower tariffs mean better pricing, faster market access, and greater flexibility in production planning. More importantly, the deal validates Renault’s dual-continent strategy at a time when global trade is becoming increasingly fragmented.
As the India-EU trade deal moves toward implementation, Renault is positioning itself not just as a carmaker—but as a bridge between two dynamic economies. And with the Duster back on Indian roads, the journey has already begun.
