“The opening new design centre in Chennai will play a crucial role in the deployment of the Renault International Game Plan, contributing to both local and global product programs.” Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations
“The Renault Design Centre Chennai will focus on developing models and concepts tailored to the Indian market while contributing to Renault Group’s global projects. By leveraging local talents and insights, this center will play a key role in shaping Renault’s future mobility solutions.” Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group
As part of the Renault Brand International Game Plan 2027, the Renault Group has inaugurated its brand-new Renault Design Centre Chennai. This follows the announcement of the 100 percent takeover of its industrial site and reflects the Group’s commitment to strengthening its presence in this key market. The opening of this design centre marks a major turning point for Renault in India and fully aligns with its new brand strategy, renault. rethink, embodying a bold and renewed vision for the Indian market. The new Renault Design Centre Chennai has state-of-the-art facilities for developing models for the Indian market, while also contributing to the Renault Group’s global projects.
Renault Group now operates five design centres worldwide – in Paris, Curitiba, Bucharest, Seoul and Chennai – shaping the vehicles of tomorrow, close to the market.
To mark the inauguration, Renault has revealed a symbolic High-Tech sculpture, renault. rethink, symbolizing the future of the brand in India. This artwork embodies Renault’s new design language, blending modernity, technology, and bold aesthetics, and serves as a conceptual and architectural statement of Renault’s new offensive in the market.
Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, “The launch of the ‘renault. Rethink’. strategy marks a new chapter for Renault in India. We are committed to redefining our brand and product positioning and customer experience to meet the evolving needs of our customers. The opening new design centre in Chennai will play a crucial role in the deployment of the Renault International Game Plan, contributing to both local and global product programs.”
Strategically located in the South-East of India, at the heart of Chennai’s dynamic industrial ecosystem – within the RNTBCI Engineering Center and next to the RNAIPL plant – this state-of-the-art center is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and collaborative spaces designed to foster creativity and innovation. Renault has been present in India since 2005, first with a design office in Pune, then a design centre in Mumbai and, since 2013, in Chennai. This new facility replaces the existing studio opened in 2013. It serves as a hub dedicated to innovation and specific developments for the Indian market. A key player in India’s automotive transformation, the new center marks an important milestone in Renault Group’s journey in the region. It is Renault Group’s largest design centre outside France.
“As the world’s third-largest automotive market, India is highly unique and locally driven. Having a dedicated design studio is essential to understanding its nuances, listening to its needs, and building from its strengths. The Renault Design Centre Chennai will focus on developing models and concepts tailored to the Indian market while contributing to Renault Group’s global projects. By leveraging local talents and insights, this center will play a key role in shaping Renault’s future mobility solutions. Its strategic location – at the heart of RNTBCI’s excellence hub – also enables closer collaboration across functions and faster integration of design into our engineering and innovation processes,” stated Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group.
Following a major transformation, the Renault Design Centre Chennai now extends over 1,500 m² and is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technologies, creating an ultra-modern environment tailored for innovation and creativity.
“renault. rethink is more than a sculpture – it’s a bold expression of Renault’s vision for India. It symbolizes our commitment to innovation and to designing cars in India, for India. This work which blends craftsmanship and high-tech influences, captures the energy of a nation on the move, and conveys Renault’s new ambitions in India,” added Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group.
The Renault Design Centre India, one of Renault’s most technologically advanced design spaces, offers:
An Immersive Exhibition Space – A high-tech environment designed for 3D model evaluation and virtual reality experiences, allowing teams to visualize and refine their concepts in real time.
A Next-Generation Visualization Studio – Featuring advanced software and digital tools, this studio enables real-time design development and immersive, high-definition presentations.
A Creative Collaboration Zone – A dynamic, open space designed to encourage brainstorming, co-creation, and agile teamwork, fostering a fluid exchange of ideas.
High-Performance LED Wall – A massive 8.5m x 2.4m LED display (2 x 16/9 format) that delivers high-impact, crystal-clear presentations, used for both local and global projects.
Advanced Virtual Reality Integration – Three high-resolution VR setups provide hyper-realistic virtual reviews, allowing designers to interact with their creations in fully immersive environments before moving to physical prototypes.
A harmonious blend of European and Indian Design – The philosophy of the studio, defined as Tactile Confluence, merges sleek, modern European architecture with distinct Indian cultural influences, creating an inspiring and meaningful workspace.
A “people-first” design approach – The innovative layout includes WE/ME Zones, flexible areas that allow designers to step away from their desks, reset their thinking, and collaborate in a more creative, stimulating setting.
