The center in Mumbai has been present as an “observational unit” since 2005 and has six employees. It will hire more designers, it said.
The center has already worked on a couple of concept car designs and is researching the use of premium fabrics in India, it said. It will also design and develop a range of automobile accessories.
Renault has a joint venture with India’s Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. to make its no-frills Logan sedan in India.
It also has a separate venture with Mahindra and Nissan to make up to 400,000 vehicles in seven years in a plant in the southern Chennai city.
Carlos Ghosn, who heads both Renault and Nissan, has said the companies were studying the feasibility of making a $3,000 car in India that could take on a cheaper car from Tata Motors Ltd., scheduled for launch next year