Renault Talisman Insights from Al Masaood Automobiles

Sayed Humayun Alam, Director of Sales and Marketing for Renault at Al Masaood Automobiles in Abu Dhabi, shares his insights about the market and plans for the brand’s newest D-segment offering in the Emirate.

Market Demand for the Renault Talisman Estate

Q. With the Renault Talisman Estate being a prominent part of the model line-up in other markets around the world, and the station wagon segment remaining relatively untapped in the UAE, are there any plans to bring the Talisman Estate here?

The UAE is a market dominated by SUVs of all sizes. Although there is an ongoing shift toward welcoming hatchbacks, the demand for station wagons in the UAE ranges from negligible to none. However, should the demand arise, we’d be more than happy to welcome the Talisman Estate to the shores of the UAE.

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Renault's Strategy in the D-Segment Market

Q. What is Renault’s strategy to enter the highly competitive D-segment of the market and compete against longstanding rivals such as the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima?

The strategy is straightforward, focusing on positioning the Talisman as an attractive value proposition with plenty of features contrasted by a low starting price of just AED 67,000. Unfortunately, due to legal restrictions that prevent any vehicle with an engine smaller than 2.4 liters from joining a taxi fleet in the Emirate, the Talisman isn’t eligible to display its durability and challenge its rivals in a high mileage fleet.

Sales Expectations for the Renault Talisman

Q. How many Renault Talisman units does Al Masaood Automobiles anticipate selling within the first year?

Although the UAE car market is down by approximately 22% compared to 2015, the D-segment—specific to European automobiles—has seen an 8% increase in sales. Keeping this in mind, a conservative figure would be 400 units annually.

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Benefits of Purchasing a Renault Talisman

Q. What benefits does one attain by purchasing a Renault Talisman from Al Masaood Automobiles?

In addition to acquiring a phenomenal car, all Talisman owners benefit from a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Additionally, owners can also purchase a 100,000 km service pack and roadside assistance.

Shared Platforms and Alliance Benefits

Q. Seeing that the Renault Talisman is built on the shared CMF-CD platform, how much does it share with Nissan?

The alliance between Mitsubishi, Infiniti, Nissan, and Samsung sees a lot of parts being shared, from tiny microchips to entire powertrains. While the 13-speaker Bose sound system in the Talisman is similar to what can be found in the Patrol, it is difficult to pinpoint what exactly has been borrowed and from where. What’s certain, however, is that the alliance has aided all involved in manufacturing superior vehicles.

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