Horse Powertrain Lands In India: Renault Duster Hybrid Gets Real
Renault-Geely joint venture Horse Powertrain has confirmed plans to set up shop in India with an investment of around Rs 3,500 crore. The unit will build hybrid and flex-fuel engines locally, with the next-generation Renault Duster lined up as the first model to use the new powertrain family.
What was announced
Horse Powertrain, the joint venture between Renault Group and China's Geely, will invest approximately USD 370 million (around Rs 3,500 crore) to start manufacturing operations in India. The unit will focus on local sourcing and assembly of hybrid and flex-fuel internal combustion engines, reducing Renault and Nissan's dependence on imported powertrains for their upcoming India launches.
A locally built 1.8-litre strong hybrid that runs on E100 is the powertrain Renault-Nissan needed to actually fight the Creta and Grand Vitara hybrids on price.
The Renault Duster is set to be the first model to use a Horse-built hybrid powertrain in India. The current Duster sold in other markets is offered with a 1.0-litre turbo petrol and a 1.3-litre turbo petrol. The hybrid in question is the E-Tech 160 setup, built around a 1.8-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a multi-mode automatic gearbox, delivering a combined 160 hp. The same powertrain family is expected to extend to the upcoming Renault Bridger seven-seater and, in time, to Nissan's Duster-based SUV widely referred to as the Tekton.
Crucially, the engines coming out of the India plant are being engineered to run on E85 and E100 ethanol blends from the start, aligning with the Centre's flex-fuel roadmap. Horse Powertrain's India base is expected to also serve as an export hub for other emerging markets, though Renault has not yet disclosed the plant location, annual capacity, or a firm start-of-production date.
The Car Jury verdict
This is the missing piece in Renault-Nissan's India reset. The Duster's comeback only works if it has a powertrain that answers the Creta hybrid question, and a 1.8-litre E-Tech strong hybrid built locally on a Rs 3,500 crore investment is exactly that answer. Local sourcing is what will keep the on-road price in striking distance of the Hyundai and Toyota strong hybrids, not a CKD premium.
The E85 and E100 readiness matters more than the marketing suggests; it future-proofs the engine against India's ethanol push without forcing a second redesign. Team-BHP's read that "Renault is not being subtle about it" with the Duster relaunch fits here. Our Duster review already carries a BUY; a locally built hybrid only strengthens that call. The Nissan Gravite WAIT verdict now has a clear catalyst to flip.
