Renault sells 4,000 cars in eight months

Renault sold 4,000 autos over the first eight months of the year, 72% more as compared to the year-ago period. The company ranks first in the top of importers, targeting the sale of 7,000 autos this year. In the medium term, the company aims to sell 10,000 cars annually in 2003.

“Renault Romania leads in the top of subsidiaries, considering the sales posted last year and over the first months of this year,” said Radu Hetco, communications manager with Renault Romania.

For Renault, Romania ranks ninth from the perspective of sales outside Western Europe.

The best selling models of the Renault range were Renault Megane and Clio Symbol. Ever since its launch, the Megane model posted sales of 5,000 units, which made it the “star” of the Renault range in Romania. Car number 4,000 was a Megane Classic, with gas engine.

The launch of Renault Laguna II is scheduled for the end of this year or the beginning of 2002, while Vel Satis will make its entrance during the first semester of next year, as the company is eyeing the luxury segment.

Last year, the Renault brand ranked first in the top of imported brands, posting a 549% increase as compared to the previous year, having sold 4,582 vehicles. In 1999, when its Bucharest subsidiary was opened, Renault sold 706 cars, accounting for 8.3 percent of the total market of imported cars.

Since the beginning of July, Renault took over the importing and distribution activity of Renault cars in Romania from the authorised importer IPSO. The new company, Renault Romania, was established following an agreement between Renault and IPSO (the Romanian subsidiary of the Bergerat Monnoyeur International group), which dealt with the import of Renault cars in Romania since June 1996.

Renault Romania SA is taking over the IPSO staff dealing with the import and distribution of Renault vehicles, together with part of the IPSO infrastructure necessary for these activities. The Renault network covers the entire Romanian territory, with 20 dealers.

According to statistics drawn by the Association of Car Producers and Importers (APIA) for the first seven months of the year, auto sales posted an 8.3% increase as compared to the year-ago period, up to 51,221 units. Car sales accounted for 40,827 units, 6.5% higher than last year.

Auto sales on the Romanian market totaled 8,616 units in July, 613 units higher as compared to the previous month.

The imported autos market posted a slight decrease in July, as the 2,698 units sold accounted for a 200-unit decrease as compared to June, but imports gained 71.3 percent over the first seven months of the year, up to 16,528 units.