The Renault
group sold 1,306,454 vehicles across the world in first half 2004. Sales
rose 6.5% compared with first half 2003, representing an additional 80,000
vehicles. Its world market share increased to 4.3%.
In first half 2004, the passenger and light commercial vehicle (PC+LCV)
market grew 3.7% in Western Europe compared with first half 2003. The
passenger car market is up 3.2% and the LCV market up 7.7%. This recovery
follows a period of steady decline from 2002.
Apart from Germany, down 1.3%, the major markets are now on an uptrend:
France (up 1.2%), Italy (up 2.7%), United Kingdom (up 3.1%), Spain (up
14.4%).
Against this backdrop, Renault is confirming its position as Western Europe’s
leading brand on the passenger car, LCV and PC+LCV markets. In Europe,
Renault has implemented successfully a selective sales policy accentuating
increased profitability rather than growth in market share. Renault held
a 10.9% market share (PC+LCV). These results represent slightly higher
sales volumes than in first half 2003, with 976,986 vehicles sold, up
2.4%.
On the passenger car market, Renault held a 10.4% market share (down 0.3
of a point) while sales increased 1% to 826,698 units. The French carmaker
confirmed its leading position on the passenger car market in France (28%),
with 298,655 vehicles registered. Mégane is market leader and three
other Renault models rank among the national top ten. Renault is strengthening
its position as the top-selling brand on the passenger car market in Spain
(12.7%) and Portugal (15.6%) where its volumes have risen by 17.1% and
11% respectively. The brand has returned to the number one position in
Belgium-Luxembourg (12.3%) and in the Netherlands (9.8% of the market).
Still the leading importer in Germany (5.2% market share), Renault maintained
its third place in the United Kingdom (7.4%). With volumes down 10.7%,
Renault is the number five brand in Italy (6.9%).
Lastly, after becoming Europe’s top diesel brand in 2003, Renault
is consolidating its position on the diesel market (474,867 vehicles registered,
representing a 13.1% market share). This ranking confirms the customer
appeal of its dCi engine range.
On the small cars segment, Clio volumes fell in first half 2004, following
the same trend as its main competitors. It continues to rank second in
the segment, thanks to the successful launch of the Generation 2004 range
and the sales performance of the 1.5 dCi 100hp engine. With 9.5% penetration
on a segment featuring many new models, Twingo performed well despite
the absence of a diesel version.
On the leisure activity vehicle segment, Kangoo ranked number one in first
half 2004. On the medium-sized car segment, Mégane confirmed its
success, with a 24.8% increase in sales volumes. It is Western Europe’s
top-selling car (4.9% of the market and 15% of its segment). Leader in
France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium-Luxembourg, it ranks
second in Switzerland and Austria. This success is shared by all versions.
The Mégane Sport Saloon is the leader in its category. The Mégane
Sport Tourer is a top-selling estate while the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet,
which recently obtained a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP test, accounts
for 22% of sales in its segment. Scénic is Europe’s unrivalled
leader in the compact MPV segment, with 23.3% of sales.
In the high-end segments, Renault obtained varied results. Launched in
September 2002, Espace is Europe’s most popular luxury MPV with
22.6% of the segment, it best rating since 1999. In the D segment saloon
category, still on a downtrend (down 5.4% in first half 2004), Laguna
fell 23.9%. A total of 4,525 Vel Satis were registered in first half 2004.
Renault has also maintained its top place on the European light commercial
vehicles market, up 7.7%, with a 15.2% market share (up 0.5 of a point
compared with first half 2003). Renault sales (149,756 vehicles), up 11.4%,
grew much faster than the market thanks notably to the performance of
car-derived vans such as Mégane Van, and vans in general. Kangoo
Express is still Europe’s top-selling light van with a 22.6% market
share.
On the van segment, Renault has risen to third
place and holds an 11.6% market share, with Trafic and Master confirming
their commercial success. Trafic, launched three years ago, and Master
whose phase 2 is now a reference on the large van segment, have posted
steadily increasing sales since 2001.
A 21% increase in Renault group sales outside Western
Europe
Outside Western Europe, Renault group sales rose
sharply in all regions of the world except for South Korea. A total of
329,468 passenger and light commercial vehicles were sold, up 21% compared
with first half 2003. For the Renault brand, the increase was 36.2%, with
247,288 vehicles sold. This growth is bolstered by the success of Mégane,
the saloon version in particular. Dacia sales
rose 34.2% versus first-half 2003, with 41,869 units. The Romanian carmaker
recorded its best first half sales results since its acquisition by Renault.
This growth reflects the success of the Solenza model and a buoyant export
market (19.5% of sales outside Romania).
In Central Europe, Renault consolidated its second place behind Skoda,
with a 10.5% market share. Brand volumes increased 2.9% in first half
2004, especially in Poland and Hungary, Central Europe’s two largest
markets. Renault also confirmed its number one position in Croatia and
Slovenia.
In Eastern Europe and Russia, Renault group sales rose 25.4%. In Russia,
the Renault brand is progressing steadily (up 33.4%), bolstered by the
success of Clio Symbol and Mégane.
In Turkey, Renault has returned to the number one position, with a 15.9%
market share. The recovery initiated in 2003 is holding steady and the
market has grown by 221% since the start of the year. With 54,948 registrations,
Renault has quadrupled its sales with respect to first half 2003.
In South America, Renault grew its sales by 17.7% on the back of good
brand performance in Argentina, with 12,228 vehicles sold (up 64.8%),
and Mexico, with 11,374 vehicles sold (up 26.3%). In Brazil, volumes fell
by 2.2% (25,981 units).
In Asia-Pacific, group sales fell 30.1% to 46,230 units. Renault brand
sales dipped by 3.5% and those of Renault Samsung Motors by 32.1% (40,312
units), due to a sharp drop in the South Korean market (down 29%).
In Africa, Maghreb and the Middle East, group sales
increased by 34.4% to 43,688 units, thanks notably to a record-breaking
first half in Algeria (12,662 vehicles, up 78.4%), and to strong sales
results in South Africa (6,889 units, up 71.1%) and Morocco (5,295 vehicles,
up 28.1%).
Outlook
The first half sales results confirm the objectives announced by François
Hinfray, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, at the start of
the year: to optimise operating margin in Europe thanks to a more selective
sales policy and to maintain a market share close to that of 2003, to
grow volumes outside Europe.
This momentum should be confirmed in second half
2004. The European market should grow by 1 to 2% over the year and the
Group is counting on the launch of Modus and Logan in September to further
boost sales. Buoyed by the success of its modernised range, Renault’s
sales volumes should continue to increase worldwide. |
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