New Delhi: Renault has named Stephane Deblaise as the new Chief Executive Officer for its India operations, a role he will officially take over from September 1, 2025. This leadership change signals a major shift in Renault’s long-term strategy for the Indian market, where the company has seen mixed success over the past few years.
Deblaise will be stepping into a challenging market, but one that’s also full of opportunity, as India continues its shift toward cleaner fuels and hybrid powertrains.
Who is Stephane Deblaise?
At 52, Deblaise brings more than two decades of Renault experience to the table. A graduate of Telecom Physique Strasbourg and IFP School, he also holds an MBA from INSEAD in France. Over the years, he’s held several critical roles across different continents — from Latin America to China and South Korea. His core experience lies in new vehicle development and product planning.
Most recently, he served as the CEO of Renault Korea. During his stint there, Deblaise helped position Korea as a global development and production hub, especially for mid- and large-size vehicles. He also oversaw the modernization of Renault’s Busan plant, pushing for multi-energy production, including hybrid tech. Those lessons could come in handy in India, where consumer preference is gradually shifting toward electrified and fuel-efficient cars.
What changes in India?
Deblaise will be reporting directly to Francois Provost, who heads procurement and partnerships at Renault Group globally. In India, all Renault entities will now report to Deblaise. Current Managing Director Venkatram Mamillapalle will assist him on corporate affairs to align the company’s mid-term growth roadmap in India.
For Indian car enthusiasts, this could mean a refreshed product line with sharper focus on hybrid and mid-size cars. With Renault’s global plans already tied to the Aurora project and Geely Group’s tech support, it’s possible that we may see fresh models with modern engine options and improved platform sharing.
Key roles held by Deblaise in the past:
- Chief Vehicle Engineer for Renault’s Entry Program in Latin America (2009)
- Vice President, Product Planning at Dongfeng-Renault in China (2014)
- Program Director for Renault’s compact and mid-size segments (2017)
- Director of Advanced Projects and Cross Car Line programs (2021)
- CEO, Renault Korea (2022–2025)
What to expect next from Renault India?
Renault has been relatively quiet in recent quarters with limited launches. But with Deblaise now in charge and the Aurora project expected to bring hybrid and future-ready cars to markets like India, things could get interesting.
Some models that could potentially be reworked or introduced:
- A new-gen Renault Duster with hybrid or turbo-petrol options
- A mid-size hybrid SUV developed under Aurora with Geely’s input
- Compact urban electric or hybrid cars targeting sub-₹10 lakh buyers
Given Deblaise’s track record in emerging markets and his focus on tech-driven production upgrades, Indian buyers might see Renault take a more serious shot at the growing mid-size SUV segment again. Renault also needs to act quickly to keep up with rivals like Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, and Tata Motors, all of whom have aggressive hybrid or EV strategies.