Renault benefited from the positive effects of its policy of international expansion, and was on track to achieve its objective of increasing production to 4 million vehicles by 2010, 50% of which for sale outside Western Europe. 

Renault Clio

Photo: Renault

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The leading make on the European market for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, Renault scored significant advances in Central Europe, Turkey and the Mercosur, thanks to an attractive product line. With Mégane and Clio, Renault had two models among the ten top-selling European passenger cars. Mégane ranked second in sales in Europe. The Espace and Kangoo were leaders in their segments. Download the attached word file for full data (detailed tables)  

In the first half of 2000, Renault recorded worldwide sales of 1,242,291 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, of which 200,846 were sold outside Western Europe, an increase of 6.3% over the same period of 1999. Worldwide sales of passenger cars rose by 6.4%, and sales of light commercial vehicles by 6.1%.  

Renault experienced significant sales gains in Western Europe (sales up 2.6%), Central Europe (+ 6.5%), Turkey (+73.2%) and the Mercosur (+10.1%). Renault Strengthened its Position as the Leading Brand in Western Europe, with 11.1% of the Market for Passenger Cars and LCVs. In a robust European market, despite the slump in the German market (where sales dropped 11.4%), sales of Renault passenger cars and light commercial vehicles rose by 2.6% (to 1,022,843 units) and the brand showed its strongest gains in France (up 17.6%), Belgium (+8.9%), Switzerland (+4.9%), Ireland (+63.8%), Sweden (+23.6%) and Greece (+14%). 

The number one passenger car and LCV brand in France (with 29.7% of the market), Spain (12.9%) and Portugal (11.9%), Renault strengthened its leadership position in Western Europe, taking a market share of 11.1% (compared with 11% in the same period in 1999).  

Renault recovered its growth dynamism in the United Kingdom in the first half of 2000, taking 7.2% of the market (compared with 7.8% in the same period in 1999), following a difficult stretch in late 1999, and buffeted by an unstable competitive environment due to British consumers' expectations that prices would decline. In Germany, Renault, along with the other leading brands, experienced a slide in its market share, to 6.3% (from 7% in 1999). Renault had a market share of 7.2% in Italy (compared with 7.7% in the first half of 1999). 

In the market for passenger cars, Renault with a 10.7% market share was almost on a par with the European leader, trailing by only 412 units (880,529 units, +2.4%).The Mégane and the Clio were among the ten top-selling models in Europe.  

Mégane was the second best-selling car in Europe, only 2,848 units behind the leader, with 4.3% of the market (355,703 units). Sales of the Mégane family climbed 16.8%, with particularly strong gains in Belgium (+41.4%), France (+40%), Portugal (+26.4%), Switzerland (+22.8%), Italy (+11%) and Spain (+8.6%). The steep rise in sales of the Mégane was primarily due to the success of Scénic, despite the arrival on the market of new rivals. Scénic benefited from the 1.9 dCi engine and the launch of the Scénic RX4 in May 2000. The launches of the Scénic 1.8 16V and the RX4 1.9 dCi common rail should further reinforce its lead position. The Mégane coupé was helped by the introduction, in December 1999, of the direct injection 2.0 IDE petrol engine. 

Clio was in seventh place, with 3.1% of the market (sales of 256,137 units). It was the third top-selling small car in Europe. The new 2000 product line, the Clio MTV limited edition, and the new 1.4 16V and 1.9 dTi engines maintained the appeal of the Clio in a highly competitive environment. The arrival in April 2000 of the Renault Sport 2.0 16v version should further strengthen the image of the Clio line. 

Twingo, with 1.1% of the market, was ahead of more recently launched rivals. Laguna, launched in January 1994, took 1.1% of the market. The Espace continued to be the top-selling MPV in Europe, with 0.4% of the market. Its attractiveness will be further enhanced in September with a new turbodiesel common rail 2.2 dCi 16 V version and product improvements in terms of design and equipment (new automatic climate control, reinforced brakes, etc.). With 0.5% of the market, Kangoo remained the leader in its passenger car segment, thanks in particular to its 1.9 dTi engine and its twin sliding side doors. 

In the market for light commercial vehicles, Renault was comfortably in the lead in sales, thanks to the Kangoo Express, Clio Utility and Master. The brand took 14.2% of the market (sales of 142,314 units, up +3,5%), with particularly strong gains in Belgium (a market share of 14.6%, up from 12.9% in the same period in 1999) and Italy (8.9% against 8.5%). 

Mégane and Clio, Sales Leaders in France

Renault strengthened its position as the leading brand in France, widening its share of the market for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles to 29.7% (from 29.5% in the same period in 1999). Renault had 28.8% of the market for passenger cars and 34.3% of that for light commercial vehicles. Mégane and Clio were the top-selling models in France. The Kangoo Express, Clio Utility and Master were the sales leaders in the market for light commercial vehicles. 

Renault Scores Substantial Gains in Central Europe, Turkey and the Mercosur. 

Outside of Western Europe, Renault registered a 29.2% increase in its sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.  

In Central Europe, Renault scored a sales increase of 6.5% (to 42,543 units) in a market that contracted by 7.9%, widening its market share to 7.3% (from 6.3% in the first half of 1999).  

Renault saw its sales rise in all the countries of Central Europe, and particularly in Hungary (up 58.2%), where it gained 2.2 percentage points of market share (to 7.2%, compared with 5% in the same period in 1999). 

In the Polish market, which experienced an overall drop in registrations (of 13.8%), Renault increased its market share to 5.9% (against 5% in the first six months of 1999), with a 3% rise in sales. The brand consolidated its leadership in Slovenia (market share of 20.5%, against 19.2% in the first half of 1999) and pulled further ahead of the competition in a market where total car sales plummeted (by 27.2%). Renault also recorded gains in the Czech Republic (sales up 23.9%, market share of 5.6% against 4.8%), and in Croatia (12.9 % against 9.7%). It took a 3.7% share of the market in Slovakia (against 3.8% over the same period in 1999). 

In Romania (estimated), in a market experiencing a severe contraction (total sales down nearly 50%), Renault experienced a spectacular sales increase, taking 4.6% of the market (compared with 0.5% in the first half of 1999). Renault was thus the leading imported brand and the third best-selling brand in the country, with an almost six-fold gain in sales (to 1,415 units from 256 in the first half of 1999). 

In Russia, Renault tripled its sales (to 1,045 vehicles from 306), thanks to the development of its dealer network (from 20 to 28 dealers during the period). 

In Turkey, Renault strengthened its position as the number one car brand, taking 20.7% of the market (against 20%). Its sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles rose by 73.2% (to 53,898 units) in a booming Turkish market. Renault has a 24.6% share of the passenger car market. Turkey was the largest market outside Western Europe for Renault in the first half, thanks to an updated and attractive product line, and particularly with the local production, and launch in September 1998, of the Mégane estate car and in September 1999 of the Clio Symbol (Clio three-box saloon car). 

In the Mercosur, Renault sales, up 10.1% (56,946 units), rose more than the overall market, which expanded by 7%. In Brazil, where total car sales rose by 9.6%, Renault saw its sales rise by 55.7% and gained 1.1 percentage points of market share to 3.7% (2.6% in the same period in 1999). This performance was due to the success of Scénic and Clio and to Renault's extensive line-up in the strategic segment for so-called "popular vehicles'' (1.0 litre engine ; 60% of the market) with the Clio, Twingo and Kangoo. The Ayrton Senna car assembly plant has been producing the Scénic since November 1998, the Clio since November 1999 and the Clio three-box saloon car since June 2000. In Argentina, Renault maintained its leadership with a market share of 16.8% (sales of 30,161 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) thanks to the launch of Clio and the good performance of Kangoo in the passenger car and LCV markets. 

In the Andean pact countries, Renault widened its market share in Colombia to 13%, from 9.5% in the first half of 1999, with a 31.5% increase in sales (to 3,837 units). In Venezuela, Renault scored a spectacular gain, increasing its share of the market for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from 1.3% to 4.4% in the first half of 2000, reflecting a quadrupling of sales (to 2,854 units). 

In the Maghreb, Renault continued to increase its sales, with a gain of 45.1% in Morocco (sales of 6,362 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles). Kangoo has been made in that country since March 1999. The brand progressed by 52.7% in Algeria (to 3,634 vehicles), thanks to the development of the dealer network. 

In South Africa, Renault widened its market share to 2.6% (from 0.7% in the first half of 1999). Unit sales nearly increased five-fold (to 4,161 from 909 in the same period in 1999), in particular thanks to Scénic and Clio, launched in July 1999 (and voted "car of the year" in March 2000).

(July 13, 2000)