Fully Camouflaged New-Generation Renault Kwid Electric Hatchback Spotted In India

French car manufacturer Renault doesn’t have too many models in the Indian market. However, they do have plans to expand their lineup in India, and this includes an EV. We have now come across a new set of spy pictures that show a fully camouflaged version of the Renault Kwid EV in India. Is it coming to India? Let’s find out.

The images have been shared by Team-BHP on their website. In this post, we see the rear of a Renault Kwid EV on a flatbed truck. According to the post, the car was spotted on a flatbed in Chennai near the airport. This is not the first time we have seen a Renault Kwid EV test mule in India.

It was first spotted in August last year. However, compared to last year, the latest images give a better view of the EV’s tail lamps. The Renault Kwid EV is already on sale in international markets. In fact, it is sold by Dacia as the Spring EV in many markets.

The Renault Kwid EV, or the Dacia Spring EV, is available with two electric motor options internationally. The EV comes with a 44 bhp motor in the lower-spec version, while the other is offered with a 64 bhp unit. Both versions are powered by a 26.8 kWh battery pack, offering a claimed range of 220 km.

In the latest images, we only see the rear of the car. The exterior design of the Kwid EV is expected to remain similar to the regular ICE version, with EV-specific changes like a closed grille and redesigned alloy wheels or steel rims, depending on the trim.

The interior of the car is also expected to follow the same theme and design as the ICE versions.

Is It Coming to India?

While we do have spy pictures of the test mule in India, this doesn’t guarantee anything. Renault could be testing the vehicle here for various reasons. Why we feel Renault might not bring the Kwid EV to India is mostly because it may not appeal to buyers.

The Renault Kwid EV is a small city hatchback with a claimed range of 220 km. In real-world conditions, this range would drop to anywhere between 100–150 km. Customers may not be interested in investing their hard-earned money in a car that only manages around 150 km on a single charge.

Pricing would be another factor. The cheapest electric car in the country, the MG Comet EV, offers a better claimed range than the Renault Kwid EV. So even if Renault plans to offer a bigger battery, they might find it difficult to price the product competitively.

Instead of bringing the Renault Kwid EV to India, we believe Renault is working on introducing an electric version of their popular sub-4-meter SUV, the Kiger. A prototype for the same was also spotted some time ago. The production version of the Kiger EV is expected to arrive in the Indian market sometime next year. It will be based on the ICE version with EV-specific updates. More details regarding the EV are expected to surface in the coming months.