Renault Expects to Hike Its European Sales in 2013

Renault SA, whose global sales fell 6% to 2.55 million passenger and commercial vehicles in 2012, predicts it will increase its volume in all markets this year, including Europe.

Renault reports that its registrations across Europe dropped 18% to 1.27 million vehicles last year more than double the market's rate of decline. The group's sales in France plummeted 20% to 551,300 units.

The company expects the European market to shrink 3% in 2013 but says its raft of new models will boost Renault group volume in the region by an unspecified amount.

The company forecasts a 3% gain in industrywide global auto sales this year. Renault predicts its volume will benefit from fast-growing developing markets.

In 2012 sales of the company's Renault, Dacia and Samsung brands outside Europe grew 9% to 1.28 million vehicles, accounting for more than half the company's total volume for the first time.

Russia, where Renault sales jumped 23% to 1.9 million vehicles last year, became the group's third-largest market after France and Brazil. Volume in the latter climbed 24% to 241,600 units. Demand for Renault vehicles in China rose 22% to a scant 29,700 units.