PARIS - November 14, 2008: The Renault group sold 188,116 vehicles (PC + LCV) worldwide in October 2008 under its three brands, Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors. This figure was down 14.1% on October 2007.
Worldwide, Renault brand sales fell 16.9%, Dacia sales grew 20.2%, and Renault Samsung Motors reported a 27.7% decrease.
The slowdown in the European market intensified. The main emerging markets where the Renault group is present (Russia, Brazil, Romania, Turkey) fell off dramatically. The used car market worsened further, particularly in Europe.
The financial crisis became more acute with a strong impact on the sales network. In this environment, Renault continues to place the priority on sales to retail customers and company fleets, as well as on reducing inventories of new and used vehicles, both at the manufacturer and sales network level.
In the Europe Region, Group sales fell 16% in October, in line with the market decrease of 15%. Sales were resilient in Germany, down 7.7% in a market that lost 8.8%, and the Group increased its market share by 0.1 point. Renault group sales were down in Spain, Italy and the UK, where the markets fell considerably.
In contrast, the Group continued to increase market share in Ireland (+2.6%), the Netherlands (+0.4%), Belgium (+0.4%), Austria (+1.6%) and Switzerland (+1.6%). Renault sold 11,569 New Twingo units, up 23% on October 2007. New M?gane Hatchback and Coup?, both launched at the Paris Motor Show, mark the renewal of Renault?s C segment offering.
New Megane Hatchback, which has been warmly received by the sales network and customers, will be launched from November onwards. Laguna Coupe was launched this month. Dacia sales in the Europe Region increased more than 84% in October, rising for the 10th consecutive month in 2008.
The Dacia range now comprises three models, Logan sedan, Logan MCV, and Sandero, which has boosted the success of the line-up.
In the Americas Region, where the market was down 12.1% in October, the Group held up well, with sales off 9%. In Brazil, where the market lost 3%, Group sales rose 24.9% for a 0.9-point increase in market share, on the strength of a rich and market-responsive product line-up. The Group sold nearly 3,000 Sanderos in October. In Argentina, a market that contracted 4.5%, sales fell 3.2%, for a 0.1- point gain in market share.
In the Euromed Region, where the market lost 5.7% in October, Renault group sales fell 13.7%. Group sales in Romania decreased 29.9%, in step with the market, down 29.5%. The Group's market share remained high, at 36%.
In Russia, in a market down 0.1%, Group sales were up 2.3%. On the expanding Algerian market (+14.9%), Group sales grew strongly, by 60.8%, for a market share increase of more than 5%. Group sales in Morocco were up 4.1%.
In the Asia-Africa Region, Group sales fell 5.3% in a market that rose 3.9% in October. RSM sales were down 28.6% in South Korea, where the market rose 3.9%. More than 5,200 Logans were delivered in Iran in October.
