Renault Group increases 2013 sales with Dacia surging on its cheap and cheerful image.

Renault sold 3 percent more cars last year on surging demand for the automaker's no-frills Dacia brand.

Group 2013 deliveries rose to 2.63 million cars and light commercial vehicles from 2.55 million a year earlier, the company said today in a statement. Dacia sales soared 19 percent.

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is focusing on boosting deliveries in emerging economies and has predicted "tremendous growth" in the entry-level segment that is Dacia's focus. Markets outside Europe accounted for half of the company's 2013 sales.

Renault is building plants in expanding regions and developing more vehicles with Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. to reduce costs with common components.

"In 2014, in a more favorable market context, we are confirming our profitable growth strategy by continuing our recovery in Europe and increasing our international sales," Chief Performance Officer Jerome Stoll said in the statement.

Renault's entry-level vehicle sales accounted for 41 percent of group deliveries last year, up from 37 percent in 2012, said Francois Rouget, a company spokesman.

Industrywide European car registrations surged 13 percent in December, the biggest jump in almost four years, with the strongest growth at Renault, Ford Motor Co. and regional sales leader Volkswagen Group, the ACEA trade group said on Jan. 16. Even so, full-year deliveries in Europe declined a sixth consecutive year to a 19-year low.

Renault and larger French competitor PSA/Peugeot-Citroen were together among the top three car discounters in Germany throughout 2013, according to German industry publication Autohaus PulsSchlag.

2014 growth

Renault forecast today that industrywide demand in France and across Europe will increase 1 percent in 2014, with deliveries worldwide advancing 2 percent. VW, Peugeot and Renault, Europe's largest carmakers, are all seeking more customers in China, the world's biggest auto market, to make up for a lack of growth in their home region.

Renault signed a joint-venture agreement in December to build an SUV factory with Wuhan-based Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ghosn said at the time that Nissan, which already works with Dongfeng, will also cooperate in the project to reduce costs.

Demand in China contributed to a 4 percent gain in fourth-quarter global deliveries at PSA, though the company's full-year sales declined 5 percent to 2.82 million vehicles. VW Group delivered more than 9.7 million vehicles worldwide last year, including heavy trucks and buses. It outsold U.S. competitor General Motors Co. in China in 2013 for the first time in nine years.

Ghosn reorganized management last year following the departure of Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares, who is set to become PSA's CEO. The operating chief's position was abolished, with Thierry Bollore taking the newly created position of chief competitive officer and Stoll taking the performance post, also a new role at the company.

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Renault group celebrate becoming the best carbon friendly manufacturer in the first half of 2013

Renault Group has become the European leader in terms of low CO₂ emissions based upon its sales of passenger cars over the first half of 2013. This ranking is the fruit of the rejuvenation of its range, the success of its Energy range of engines and the growth of its electric vehicle sales.  

Renault Group has moved into pole position in Europe in terms of low CO₂ emissions, with an average of 115.9g of CO₂/km* per vehicle (source: AAA-DATA**) based on its passenger car sales over the first half of 2013.

Renault Group owes this performance to the recent rejuvenation of its ranges, notably including five models that return less than 100g of CO₂/km (Twingo, New Clio, Captur, Mégane and Dacia Sandero). Indeed, in the small five-seater diesel car sector, New Clio Energy dCi 90 eco² is the class leader with 83g/km. Overall, the New Renault Clio range emits 18.5g of CO₂/km less than the model’s previous generation.

Meanwhile, Renault is Europe’s number one brand for electric mobility, and its electric vehicle sales have also contributed significantly to the Group’s low average CO₂ emissions.

Taken as a whole, the average level of CO₂ emissions per kilometre across Renault Group’s entire range has improved by nearly 10g in the first half of 2013 over 2012, falling from 125.5g/km to 115.9g/km.

“This position of market leader is proof that the combination of our powertrain strategy – with our range of Energy engines – and our electric vehicle strategy is bearing fruit. Thanks to these innovations, Renault Group is achieving tangible results and maintaining its objective to significantly reduce the long-term environmental footprint of its activities. At the same time, these improvements are beneficial for both the planet and our customers.”

(Jean-Philippe HERMINE, Director, Renault Group, Environmental Plan)