What's on his mind?

It's hard to say, but if Renault's global CEO Carlos Ghosn isn't the one to waver, then perhaps not. For, in the past Ghosn, who's also the President & CEO of Nissan Motors, has described Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) as a "natural ally" for any small car (sub $3,000) that Renault may launch in India.

The French car maker already makes mid-sized sedan, the Logan, with M&M in India. So, how did Bajaj Auto's name pop up last fortnight as a potential Renault partner for the small car? Blame it partly on a newspaper report and partly on the goings-on at Bajaj Auto.

Over its tumultuous past decade, one division has consistently churned out profits-three-wheelers. But with competition from ultra-light, four-wheel commercial vehicles from Tata Motors and now Piaggio (and the potential threat of tighter emission norms), Bajaj Auto is making a foray into four-wheel commercial vehicles by 2008. There has also been speculation that Bajaj may just be tempted to go passenger as well with its four-wheeler. Indeed, the company's MD, Rajiv Bajaj, hinted that they might showcase a "light, four-wheel passenger vehicle" concept at the forthcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi in January.

Neither Bajaj nor M&M would comment on the issue, but Renault confirmed its intentions to develop such a vehicle, but stated that it had not taken a decision on 'the distribution' (read: local production) of such a vehicle. Any which way, it is unlikely that the 'Flying B' (Bajaj logo) will ever be seen on a four-wheeler, because Rajiv Bajaj did also state that the company will re-brand its commercial vehicle line, and any four-wheeler will wear a different logo altogether.