Renault Group’s global sales up 9.8% to 2.1 million in first-half 2018

The Renault Group has announced record sales for the January to June 2018 period. This includes Groupe Renault passenger car (PC) and light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations worldwide (including LADA, Jinbei and Huasong). Total global sales rose 9.8% to 2,067,695 vehicles including 1,378,583 Renault brand vehicles and 378,095 Dacia brand vehicles. While LADA sales increased 24.0%, Renault Samsung Motors sales decreased 26.9%.
Effective from January 1, 2018, Groupe Renault has also integrated the sales volumes of Jinbei and Huasong, which totaled over 85,000 units.

“For the third consecutive year, we have set a new sales record, with nearly 2.1 million vehicles sold in the first half. In Europe, the group continues to gain market share, while internationally we are posting excellent performances, notably in Latin America, the Eurasia region and Africa,” said Thierry Koskas, Member of the Executive Committee, executive vice-president, Sales and Marketing.

In Europe, Group registrations rose 4.4 % in a market that grew 2.8%, with 1,070,718 vehicles registered in the first half. The group took an 11.0% share of the European market, up 0.2 points.

The Renault brand alone grew its sales 1.1% for a market share of 8.1%. The Clio 4 is the second best-selling vehicle in Europe, Captur the number-one crossover in its segment and Scénic the top-selling model in its category.

In the electric vehicle segment, Renault confirmed its leadership with a market share of 21.9%. Sales volumes increased 11.6%. Zoe sales rose 1.1% and Kangoo Z.E. sales 125%.

The Dacia brand posted a half-year sales record in Europe with 281,225 vehicle registrations (up 14.6%) and a record 2.9% share of the market (up 0.3 points). The increase was driven by the performance of Sandero phase 2 and New Duster, which posted 63,900 registrations in six months.

The Alpine brand recorded its first registrations in 22 years. More than 4,800 vehicles have been reserved since launch.

APAC growth up 69%
Outside Europe, group registrations rose 16.4%. The group achieved sales growth in the Americas (+18.1%), Asia-Pacific (+69.5%) and Eurasia (+15.1%). Sales were down in Africa, Middle East, India (-4.5%).

In the Americas region, sales rose 18.1% in a market that expanded by 6.3%. The group achieved a record 7.3% market share for a half-year period, up 0.7 points. The performance notably resulted from an unprecedented product offensive comprising the complete SUV range.
Groupe Renault continued to take full advantage of the dynamic market in Argentina, increasing its registrations 22.2%, twice as much as the market, up 11.2%. Market share increased 1.3 points to 14.6%. The market in Brazil gained 13.7% in the first half of the year. The group took advantage of the trend, increasing sales by 27.8% reporting a record market share of 8.3% (up 0.9 points). The Kwid, launched in second-half 2017, ranks number-two in its segment in both countries.

The Asia-Pacific region integrated the sales volumes of the Jinbei and Huasong brands on January 1, 2018 following the creation of a joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited. Sales rose 69.5% in the region. The group sales, on 2017 sales, are down 14.8% in a market that increased 4.3%. In China, the group sold 117,646 vehicles, nearly 33,000 of which under the Renault brand.  Renault Samsung Motors posted a decrease of 26.9% in South Korea in the absence of a new model in a highly competitive market.

In Eurasia, registrations rose 15.1% in a market that grew 9.4%. The group increased its market share 1.3 points to 25.8%, driven primarily by strong momentum in Russia. 
The Russian market expanded 18.2% in the first half of the year. Russia remains Groupe Renault’s number-two market. The group grew its sales 19.7% and placed eight models in the top 15 passenger car rankings. More than one vehicle in every four sold in Russia in 2017 is a Renault or LADA.
LADA posted a 21.1% rise in sales with a market share of 20.0% (+0.5 points) thanks to the success of the new LADA Vesta and LADA XRAY models. 
Renault brand sales volumes increased 16.5%, notably owing to the success of Duster and Kaptur, ahead of the arrival of a new C-segment crossover in 2019.

In the Africa, Middle East, India region, Group registrations contracted 4.5% in a market up 10.1%. 
Sales fell 10.3% in Iran for a market share of 8.1% (down 2.3 points). 
In India, while remaining the number-one European car brand, Renault recorded a 25.4% downturn in sales in a highly competitive market.
In North Africa, group sales rose 12.4% in a market up 7.0%. Group market share stood at 44.8%, up 2.1 points.

Market outlook for 2018
Renault Group has revised its perspectives for the year 2018. It says the global market is expected to grow 3% on 2017 (previously +2.5%). The European market is expected to expand 1.5% (vs +1%) with an increase of 2% (vs +1%) for France. Internationally, the Brazilian market is expected to grow 10% (vs +5%) and the Russian market more than 10% (vs close to +10%). China is expected to grow 5%, and India 8% (vs 6%).

In this context, the group says it expects to reap the benefits of range renewal across all regions in 2018 and to pursue sales growth1, driven by international markets in connection with the new Drive the Future plan.