(October 7, 2011) CURITIBA, Brazil — In 1998, one year after the founding of Renault Brazil, Renault opened its first production plant in Curitiba. While visiting the site on Wednesday, Carlos Ghosn announced that production capacity will be increased 100,000 units by 2013.

The production increase is expected to add 1,000 new jobs in the process. The plant's annual capacity — passenger cars and LCVs — will be increased to more than 380,000 units per year.
   
Capital outlay totals 500 million Brazilian reals, or about $266 million.
   
This increase in production capacity will provide Renault with the means to achieve its ambitions in Brazil. Renault aims to claim market share of 8 percent by 2016, compared with more than 5 percent today.
   
Along with India and Russia, Brazil is one of Renault's three priority markets as part of "Renault 2016 – Drive the Change." Brazil was the Group’s third largest market for the year to end August 2011, behind France and Germany, and it was the second largest in July and August.

Ghosn, president and CEO of Renault, said, “In 2011, Brazil is set to become Renault's second-largest market. Brazil is one of the cornerstones of our international growth strategy: more than one-quarter of the growth in volume will come from Brazil. If we are to reach this target, then we must increase our manufacturing capacity, and we have chosen our Curitiba plant to achieve this.”

2012 Renault Duster

The investments also provide for the creation of a genuine engineering centre close to the production plants, whereas, today, the engineering personnel and establishments (Renault Technologies Americas – RTA) are spread around the industrial complex.

After being on show at the Buenos Aires motor show in June 2011, Renault Duster is the latest vehicle to go into production at the Curitiba plant. Renault Design Latin America and Renault Technologies Americas (RTA) have adapted the European version to the local conditions and demands.