Mumbai: French car maker Renault is looking to replace its Indian partner Mahindra & Mahindra in their struggling Logan joint venture, The Economic Times said on Wednesday, a report refuted by the French firm.
"Renault very strongly denies the rumour/speculation that there is any move to ask anyone, Bajaj Auto or otherwise, to take over the M&M stake in Mahindra Renault," the French car maker said in a statement.
"Renault's commitment to the Indian market remains undiluted and we are continuing to work together with M&M to determine the appropriate product portfolio and the way forward for Mahindra Renault," it said.
The Economic Times, said the joint venture, in which M&M owns 51 per cent, was struggling to sustain volumes due to uncompetitive pricing.
Mahindra is unhappy with the venture and is seeking greater control on product re-engineering, the newspaper said.
Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers showed that Logan sales in the first five months of 2009 to 2010 fell 68 per cent from a year ago and production dropped 63 per cent.
The newspaper said Mahindra Renault had failed to price the Logan competitively because of a 20 per cent excise duty on the car that is more than 4 metres in length.
Duty on cars measuring up to 4 metres is 8 per cent and Mahindra's demand to reduce the car's length was turned down by Renault, the paper said.
"I totally deny the way it has been reported. We are working at the moment on the way forward," said Mahindra Renault's Chief Executive Officer, Nalin Mehta.
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