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July 10, 2003
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This Week:

• The New BMW 6 Series Coupe

• Continued growth for Porsche in North America

• Land Rover Launches Comprehensive Marketing Campaign

• Toyota Will Hold Line On Pricing Of Second-Generation Prius, Offer Early-Buyer Program For "Prius Pioneers"

• Ford F-150 Continues Tradition Of Value Throughout 2004 Lineup Of America's Best-Seller

• Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars Consolidates Leading Position in Premium Segment during First Half of 2003

• New Beetle Cabriolet with best safety results in ADAC roll-over test

• BMW Group Successful In The First Half of 2003

• First-half 2003: Renault consolidates position as Europe's leading brand on the strength of new models and targets increased market share

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First-half 2003: Renault consolidates position as Europe's leading brand on the strength of new models and targets increased market share
 

With a 10.7% share of the passenger car market in first-half 2003, Renault consolidated its position as Western Europe's leading brand. It is also No. 1 in light commercial vehicles, with 14.8% of the market and in overall passenger car and LCV sales, with 11.1%. The success of the new Espace and Mégane - the top seller in Western Europe - the strong performance of Clio, and the excellent market response to Scénic II, should set the scene for market share growth in the second half of 2003. Group sales in the rest of the world were powered by robust demand in Central and Eastern Europe, recovery in Turkey and growth at Renault Samsung Motors and Dacia.

• The uncertain economic backdrop and the 2.8% contraction in the European market had a negative impact on Renault's passenger car and LCV sales volume in the first half of 2003. In particular, Renault was hit by the sharp 7.8% decline of its main market, France, and by the downturn on other markets where it has high penetration, including Belgium and Portugal.

• Nevertheless, the brand improved its positions in Western Europe month by month, finishing the half-year with strong sales growth of 11% in June. This trend should continue into the second half, in line with forecasts. The success of Scénic II right from its launch in June, and the arrival of the Sport Saloon, Sport Tourer and Coupé- Cabriolet versions of Mégane II this autumn, are additional assets in a significantly renewed range. For the first time, Renault has become the leading European brand for diesel vehicles (407,155 vehicles registered, or 12.8% of the diesel market), confirming the strong customer appeal of its new range of engines.

• Confirmed leadership in Western Europe, with two flagship models: Mégane and Clio

In the first half year, with 805,220 passenger cars sold in Western Europe (down 5%), Renault maintained market share of 10.7%, similar to the level achieved at end-2002.

This result confirms its position as Europe's leading brand. In June alone, market share totalled 11.8%. Renault confirmed its leading position in France, with a 27.2% market share and 290,400 passenger car registrations. As a result, Renault is once more the No. 1 brand on all market segments, with Mégane and Clio as the first and second bestselling vehicles respectively. Laguna and Twingo are also in the top 10.

Renault is also No. 1 in Spain (12.4%) and Portugal (14.9%), where it reported a 1.7- point increase. Still the leading imported brand in Germany (market share of 6.3%), Renault was ranked No. 2 in Belgium-Luxembourg (11.7%) and No. 3 in the Netherlands (9.9%) and the UK (7.3%). Renault also claimed the No. 3 spot in taly, increasing market share by 1.3 points to 8%. In Western Europe excluding France, sales contracted by 1.7% to 514,820 units.

On the small car segment, Clio made a strong contribution to half-yearly results. The second best-selling vehicle on its segment in Europe, Clio secured 3.3% of total industry volume, maintaining its record levels of 2001 and 2002. In France, with 26.6% of its segment, Clio increased its lead. With 13.2% of its segment, Twingo maintained its leadership of the European market in small city cars, ahead of the Fiat Seicento, Ford Ka and Citroën Saxo. On the purpose-built small van segment, the new-generation Kangoo made a successful debut to reclaim the No. 1 position across Western Europe in June with market share of 23.7%. It ranked No. 2 in the first half of the year.

On the C segment, Mégane lived up to expectations, with volume growth of 11.3% and the status of best-selling car in Western Europe. Mégane is No. 1 in France, Spain, Portugal and Belgium-Luxembourg and among the top three in the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria. With the Mégane II Hatch and Sport Hatch, Renault has doubled its market share in C-segment hatchbacks in Western Europe (11.3% in 2003, compared with 5.2% in 2002). Scénic II, which received a warm welcome from the market when it was launched in early June, will expand Renault's offering in the strategic mid-range vehicle segment in Europe.

On the D/E segments, Renault posted mixed results: Espace IV confirmed its success, whereas Laguna and Vel Satis did less well. Laguna, which generated high sales in the first half of 2002, reported a 28.1% decline in a segment down by 9.9% and subject to fierce competition. Vel Satis fell short of forecasts, with 8,145 units registered in the first half, although it reported a favourable version mix (75% of sales generated by the high-spec Privilège and Initiale versions). Meanwhile Espace IV, for which high-end versions also accounted for a larger-than-expected share of sales (43%), confirmed its top ranking in the European market for large MPVs, ahead of the Volkswagen Sharan.

Renault also maintained its lead in the European light commercial vehicle market, which contracted by 4.7%, with 132,923 vehicles registered and market share of 14.8%. Renault's sales volume dropped by significantly more than the market (down 13.7%), owing to the results of the Clio Van in France and the Kangoo replacement. Nevertheless, Kangoo Express remains Europe's most popular small van, with segment share of 22.5%.

On the van segment, Trafic scored market share of 5.2% in Western Europe, a gain of 1.2 points compared with first-half 2002. Trafic built on its sales performance to rank No. 3 in its segment, ahead of the Mercedes Vito. With Trafic and Master, which remained the best-selling van in France, Renault moved into the third slot in the van market, posting a share of 10.4%.

Group sales grew outside Western Europe, despite difficulties in Mercosur

Outside Western Europe, Renault's sales grew significantly in many markets, particularly Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia, Mexico and Northern Latin America. Difficulties persisted in Argentina and Brazil. Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors continued to make progress.

The market in Central Europe grew 11.6%. The popular Mégane model enabled Renault to consolidate its No. 2 position behind Skoda, with market share of 10.9% and a volume increase of 5.7%. Renault was No. 1 in Slovenia and Croatia. Renault's 10.4% market share in Poland rose in a market that grew by 13.5%.

In Eastern Europe and Russia, group sales rose by 13.2%. In Russia, Renault reported a record sales increase of 47.8% on the strength of Clio Symbol's success. In Turkey, Renault posted market share of 14.1% in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, in a market that expanded by 103%, making a strong recovery. Renault's volumes increased by 104% to 15,118 units.

In Mercosur, Renault, like all its competitors, continued to face difficult conditions in the Argentine and Brazilian markets, characterized by high excess capacity and pressure on prices. Renault adjusted its industrial plant and defended its market share by limiting the economic impact of the crisis. In Brazil, Renault consolidated its No. 5 ranking on the market with 26,553 units sold (down 11.9%) for market share of 4.3%. In Argentina, sales fell by 44.5% to 7,205 units.

In Northern Latin America, Renault sales rose by 6% with strong increases in Mexico (up 42% to 8,740 units) and Colombia (up 24.3% to 8,576 units).

In the Asia-Pacific region, group sales were boosted by growth at Renault Samsung Motors. Renault-brand sales in the region totalled 7,121 units in the first half of the year.

In Africa, Maghreb and the Middle East, the group's volumes declined by 0.9%. Renault recorded a decline in sales in Algeria (down 17.6%) and South Africa (down 9.4%), mainly due to the strong euro. In Morocco, Renault sales grew by 10% to 4,103 units.

Dacia sales were up 14.8% on the first half of 2002 to 31,506 units. This growth can be attributed to its new model Solenza, which accounted for 30.7% of the brand's sales three months after its April launch in Romania, and to a good performance from the rest of the range. Dacia started exporting significant numbers of vehicles.

Renault Samsung Motors sold 59,377 units, a gain of 10.6%, mainly in Korea, on a fluctuating and less dynamic market than in 2002. Sales were driven by the launch of the SM3, which secured 17% of its segment. The SM5 saloon continued to prove popular and topped the 300,000 sales mark.

(July 10, 2003)