Renault Group international sales grows 4.3 per cent in first-half 2013

Renault Group international sales grew 4.3 per cent in first-half 2013, reaching a record level. That increase nonetheless failed to offset a 7.3 per cent fall in Group sales in Europe, where the market continued to deteriorate, down 6.7 per cent.

Group sales, totaling 1.3-million
units worldwide, half of which outside Europe, were down 1.9 per cent in the first half but up 0.7 per cent for the second quarter alone. Global market share was practically stable at 3.2 per cent, down 0.1 points.

The Group pursued its growth strategy with a record 646,274 vehicle sales (up 4.3 per cent), or 49.6 per cent of global sales (up 2.9 points). Russia became the Group's number-two market ahead of Brazil and Renault the number-two brand in the country. Renault, thanks to Duster, made significant headway in India, where it became the number-one European brand.

In Europe the Group sold 656,580 vehicles (down 7.3 per cent) and took a 9.2 per cent share of the passenger car (PC) and light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, down 0.1 points. The Group was impacted by the higher-than-average downturn in its three main markets. Renault led the LCV market with a 14.2 per cent share.

The new Renault and Dacia ranges are meeting with expected success in all regions. New Clio, launched in Europe, Turkey and the Maghreb countries, leads the French market. The successful launch of Captur in Europe confirms the success of Renault's design renewal. New Sandero sales were up in all its markets, among them Belgium (+99 per cent), Spain (+61 per cent), Turkey (+35 per cent), France (+32 per cent) and Italy (+32 per cent). Duster, with 188,868 sales (up 50 per cent), is the spearhead of the Group's international growth.

"The Renault group has once again demonstrated the relevance of its international development strategy, which allows it to absorb a large part of the fall in the European market. We are posting robust successes internationally, as seen in Russia and India. In Europe, the renewal of our Renault and Dacia product ranges enables us to continue protecting our margins and market shares," said Jerome Stoll, Executive Vice-President, Sales and Marketing & Light Commercial Vehicles.

The Group sold 646,274 vehicles outside Europe, up 4.3 per cent. Non-European sales accounted for 49.6 per cent of total world sales, up from 46.7 per cent in first-half 2012.

The results confirm the Group's international development. Five of the Group's top ten markets are now located outside Europe, two of which - Russia and Brazil - are in the top three.

In Russia, where the market was down 5.7 per cent, Renault sales rose 9.5 per cent, bolstered by the strong performance of Duster, the segment-leading SUV, and the continued success of Logan and Sandero. Renault is the number-two brand in the country with an 7.8 per cent share of the market, up 1.1 points. At end-June, Russia became the Group's second-largest market in the world.

The Group sold 125,400 vehicles, up 7.8 per cent. Market share was stable at 0.7 per cent. Buoyed by a range of five models and a network of over 100 dealerships covering 90 per cent of the territory, the Renault brand made headway in India and took a 2.5 per cent share of the market (compared with 0.3 per cent in first-half 2012) with sales of 39,490 vehicles. It is now the number-one European brand in the country.

In South Korea, Renault Samsung Motors sales fell 14.2 per cent in a stable market. The restructuring plan initiated in 2012 is starting to produce results, with the positive start-up of phase-two SM5. The release of QM3 at the end of the year is expected to mark the start of the recovery.

In Euromed-Africa region Group sales increased 6.7 per cent to 196,543 units. Market share came to 15.4 per cent, down 0.2 points.

In Turkey, a dynamic market up 12. per cent, Group sales grew 16.7 per cent. Success was driven for Renault by the success of new Fluence, Clio (B-segment leader) and Symbol and for Dacia by the increasing sales of Duster (up 31,1 per cent) and the excellent debuts of new Sandero, Lodgy and Dokker. The Group took a 17.2 per cent share of the market, up 0.7 points.

In Algeria, the Group posted a 6.5 per cent increase in sales, for a 26.5 per cent share of the market. In PCs, the success of New Clio, number-two in its segment with a 6.4 per cent share, behind Logan, enabled the Group to maintain its sales performance, with a 28. per cent market share.

In Morocco, the Group placed the Dacia and Renault brands in the top two spots and achieved a record market share of 39.3 per cent, up 1.6 points.

The Group sold 210,142 vehicles, down 2.4 per cent in Americas region. Market share was 6.2 per cent, down 0.5 points. Group LCV sales increased 20.4 per cent, nearly three times faster than the market's 7.8 per cent. The Group posted a significant recovery in sales in the second quarter, up 3.1 per cent.

In Brazil, the two-month close of the Curitiba plant to increase production capacity by 100,000 vehicles led to a shortage in vehicles, which impacted sales. Renault took a 6 per cent share of the market, down 0.8 points. With 102,020 vehicles sold, Brazil is the Group's number-three market. Renault sales in Argentina grew 6.8 per cent, boosted by the success of Clio Mio and Duster. Brand market share came to 14.1 per cent, down 0.2 points. LCV sales, up 15.3 per cent, will be buoyed in the second half by the launch of new Master.

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