Renault rejigs operations to focus on India

Chennai, July 11 (IANS) Looking at the long term prospects and to spur sales in the short term, French automobile maker Renault group has decided to focus on the Middle East, India and Gulf markets, the group said.

The Renault group has now split its Asia-Pacific region into two. The new Middle-East India region will include the Middle East, the Gulf countries and the Indian sub-continent.

The new region will be headed by Bernard Cambier, a member of Renault's Management Committee.

He has been appointed chairman of the Middle-East India region to boost sales in India, the Renault group said in a statement Thursday.

For the group, India is ranked 13th out of top 15 markets. During the first six months, Renault sold 24,129 units in India.

Cambier will also oversee resuming of commercial and industrial activities in Iran and more generally in Middle East and Persian Gulf countries.

Renault's vehicle sales in the Asia-Pacific region went down 12 percent during the first half of 2014 due to the drop in the Indian market and the situation in Iran.

For Renault, the Asia-Pacific region will include China, Asean countries, Korea, Japan, Australia and Oceania, the Renault group said.