Rafael Treguer : The French Connection

Photos: Suneesh Suresh

On a bright summer day in Kochi the TVS-Renault showroom in Edapally, Kochi is buzzing with activities, Mr. Rafael Treguer, the Vice President for sales & marketing for Renault India has come for a whirlwind tour of the major TVS-Renault Dealership in India, which includes, Kerala, Mangalore and Madhya Pradesh. The tall and charming Frenchman has been leading many of Renault’s International operation in Italy, Spain and Romania, his first time away from Europe exploring the Indian market. The eight months he has spent in India has been a delightfully educating experience for him. Rafael was very open and candid about India, the market and his plans for the growing economy.
 

Your Indian experience till now?

A tremendously enjoyable place with varied geography, culture, people and as a Frenchman, I must say wonderful food.

 Any surprises in particular?

Many I must say, but on top of the list would be a good wine served during a dinner in Delhi– A sweet Italian wine grown in Nasik Valley. The other    highlight would be Kulfi; a wonderful dessert with amazing flavor and texture.

 What plans for Renault in India?

The response to Renault in India has been very good with Duster leading the pack. We are planning to build up on the response that our customers have shown us by delivering the best possible cars in different segments. The Indian market is quite interesting for Global brands like us because of the varied geography, different reading segments and customer usage base can be addressed by multiple segments of cars. There are no ‘single fit car for all’ cars.

So Renault is planning new segments?

Yes, we are planning to deliver something special with the Renault tours in the MPV segment in India through Renault Lodgy. It will have specific advantages over competition and definitely a new styling from anything seen in the segment till now. A few years back India’s SUV segment was very dormant and now we see so many new cars in the segment. The success of the Duster in the same shows the value that Renault delivers to the market. The big MPV segment will bring a good entry and the small car segment and the sedan segment will also see cars be launched from Renault. Kerala with its 3rd largest small car market in India will definitely be a game changer for us.

New features to expect in the car?

The engine will be exemplary. Our engines are used from F1 cars to small cars all over the world. The styling will be played around a lot. We have different styles for different operational countries. Many features seen only in premium segments will be seen.The torque and fuel efficiency will be very appropriate for the Indian customers. The company will continue focusing on good cost of ownership and right car experience. We believe that the right product for the right segment will be a win-win for all .