Renault Hopes New Models Will Revive Sales

Renault SA predicts new models later this year will ease a 7% drop to 1.94 million vehicles in the company’s sales through the first half of 2019.

Renault was able to maintain market share in spite of a lack of new models in January-June. The carmaker predicts better volumes through the second half of the year, thanks to the introduction of new or freshened models.

The new offerings due later this year include the Arkana midsize crossover (Russia), Clio small hatchback (Europe), K-ZE electric city car (China), Zoe electric car (Europe) and Triber MPV (India).

Renault notes that its volume in Europe was stable in a market that shrank 3%. The company’s low-cost Dacia brand saw sales jump 11% to a record 311,000 units in the first six months.

Group sales in Brazil surged 20% to 112,800 units and rose 4% to 11,900 in South Africa. But deliveries dropped in Argentina (-50%), Turkey (-45% and, China (-24%). Sales slipped 1% in Russia.