Renault has renamed its Chennai manufacturing facility after Gérard Detourbet, the French engineer credited with creating the globally successful Duster. The plant will now be known as the Gérard Detourbet Chennai Plant, according to a LinkedIn post shared by Renault Group India CEO Stéphane Deblaise. “Gerard Detourbet Chennai plant, a way to pay tribute to the inventor of Duster that we launch soon in India,” he said.
French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou attended the ceremony, which Renault described as a symbolic moment acknowledging Detourbet’s legacy and long-lasting impact on the brand’s global product strategy. Detourbet, often referred to as the “father of the Kwid” and the architect behind Renault’s CMF-A platform, played a key role in developing affordable, robust vehicles for emerging markets, including India.
Renault’s Chennai facility, operational since 2010, has been central to the company’s India operations, producing models such as the Kwid, Kiger, and Triber for domestic as well as export markets. The plant has an annual installed capacity of over 4.8 lakh units and is one of Renault’s largest manufacturing hubs outside Europe.
The renaming comes at a strategic time for Renault in India, as the company gears up for the launch of the new Duster in January 2026. The upcoming all-new Duster, built on the latest modular platform, will spearhead Renault’s efforts to regain share in the competitive SUV segment. The company is also expected to strengthen its localisation levels and expand its EV and hybrid roadmap for the market.
By honouring Detourbet, Renault aims to reinforce its commitment to India and celebrate the engineering innovation that shaped one of its most successful global nameplates.
