Renault is bringing back Duster on Republic Day of 2026
Renault are bringing back their most successful SUV nameplate, the Duster, in India after a brief hiatus. In India, the car enjoyed a decade-long success in the country and redefined mid-size SUVs.
New Delhi: Renault India, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French automaker Renault Group, have officially announced the return of its new SUV, which will carry the Duster nameplate. First launched in 2012, the Renault Duster changed the SUV game to a great extent.
Since then, the segment has grown to the point where it constitutes one-fourth of the passenger vehicle market in India. The Duster will be the first product from the brand’s International Game Plan 2027 to be launched in India. The car is going to be a backbone to the brand’s India-centric transformation strategy that is being tagged ‘Renault.rethink’.
Stephane Deblaise, CEO of Renault Group India, spoke at the announcement and said, "Renault Duster is more than just a name – it’s a true legend. A symbol of adventure, reliability and innovation, its comeback shows our commitment to the Indian market and our desire to offer vehicles that meet the needs of our customers. New Renault Duster will rely on its iconic heritage while adopting a modern design, advanced technology and enhanced performance.”
The announcement is a significant moment for both the brand and potential buyers, with the Duster nameplate being the pioneer of a well-made mid-size SUV. In India, there have been 200,000 customers with the Duster having a global customer base of 1.8 million, and the Duster has always been known to be a kind of range, from the tie it was first introduced. For the brand Renault, the Duster is one of their most successful products ever. The Duster will be unveiled on Republic Day, that is, January 26th, 2026.
Renault had introduced the Duster under its brand name as well as the Dacia brand name in 2023. While the powertrain and details for the India-spec remain under wraps, the brand has an option to offer six different powertrains, four of which are petrol hybrid. We can make a light guess as to how the Duster might appear, though the Indian spec could obviously be much different.