India 4th biggest market for Renault's Duster

India has become the fourth biggest market for Renault's compact sports utility vehicle Duster globally, with sales touching 85,974 units in the country, since the launch of the vehicle in 2012.

The combined production of Renault and Dacia branded Dusters has already crossed one million vehicles worldwide.

The vehicles were launched across international markets four years ago.

Currently, Russia is the biggest market for Duster globally.

The French car major has sold 1,51,633 units of the SUV in that country. This is followed by France with 1,45,612 units (where it is badged as Dacia) and Brazil with 1,17,303 units in third spot.

Germany is the fifth biggest market for the SUV after India, where it sold 70,159 under the Dacia badge.

"Not only is Duster one of the driving forces behind the Renault Group’s international growth, but it has also emerged as the bestselling Renault model worldwide," the company said in a statement.

Renault Group's Entry Programme Director Arnaud Deboeuf said: "With Renault branding, it perfectly meets the demands of our international customers and is contributing to Renault’s expansion in emerging markets."

At the same time, the Dacia-badged version sold in Europe and Mediterranean Basin markets has succeeded in attracting a new clientele to the brand, he added.

Duster, which competes with Mahindra Scorpio and Ford EcoSport in India, is currently marketed in more than 100 countries and made in five factories across the world.

It is priced between Rs 7.78 lakh and Rs 11.79 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

For the month of March, Renault sold 4,494 units of Duster in India, while 46,786 units of the SUV were sold in the 2013-14 fiscal.

The one millionth Duster was manufactured at Renault's plant in Curitiba, Brazil, and will be delivered to a customer in the same country.