French car maker Renault said 2016 has turned out to be the biggest year for the company in India and it would continue to build on its growth journey in 2017.

“We plan to launch at least one new product every year over the next five years, beginning with some exciting product innovations starting next year,” according to Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations.

He assured that whatever be the product from Renault, it would be a game-changer, which would redefine the segment or create a sub-segment.

Over the last few years, Renault has had a single-minded focus on establishing a strong base in India. “We are on track with a 4.5 per cent market share this calendar year, achieving robust three-digit growth over 2015,” said Sawhney.

In terms of network expansion, Renault India ramped up its network from 205 to 270 in 2016, making it one of the fastest ramp-ups in the automotive industry. The company will continue to expand its network in 2017 as well, with strategic measures to make its cars more accessible to customers across the country.

On his expectations for the year ahead, he said: “From an industry point of view, we surely look forward to intermittent pro-business policy decisions, such as the vehicle scrappage policy, finalisation of GST rates and other proactive measures, which will give a further fillip to the automobile industry in the coming year.

Sawhney also reiterated that India was a priority market for Groupe Renault and the country had played an important role in Renault’s international growth.

“In a short span of time, Renault has grown its presence exponentially, becoming one of the youngest and fastest growing automotive brands and the number one European brand in India,” he said in his year-end note.

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