Currently reading: Groupe Renault sales fall 34.9% in first half of 2020

Pandemic hits demand for French firm's cars, but rising sales for Zoe EV provide encouragement

Groupe Renault’s global sales fell by 34.9% year-on-year in the first half of 2020 due to the pandemic, but the firm believes that it's well-placed to stage a strong recovery in the next six months.

The French firm, whose brands include Renault, Alpine, Dacia and Lada, sold 1,256,658 units between January and June.

That included 623,854 vehicles in Europe, a year-on-year decline of 48.1%. The group also suffered sharp falls in sales in China (-20.8%), Brazil (-39.0%) and India (-49.4%), with various lockdown measures hitting sales in each region.

There were some brighter signs for Renault, however, with sales rising in June as dealerships in Europe reopened. The firm also achieved record sales of the Zoe electric supermini, with the 37,540 sold in Europe representing a rise of nearly 50%.

Denis le Vote, Groupe Renault's sales boss, said: “The world has gone through an unprecedented crisis with a major impact on our business. As soon as the recovery began, our plants and sales network quickly mobilised to meet our customers' needs, with demand sustained in June by government aid measures in Europe.”

In a release, Groupe Renault said it's on track to achieve its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets for 2020, helped by the sales success of the Zoe and the launch of hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions of the Clio, Captur and Mégane estate.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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Peter Cavellini 20 July 2020

Renault.

 I think the reason they're not selling is because the cars are just ordinary looking, other than the Alpine, there's nothing of note in the meat n two veg/ Family sector that's remotely attractive, different.

Jeremy 20 July 2020

Peter Cavellini wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:

 I think the reason they're not selling is because the cars are just ordinary looking, other than the Alpine, there's nothing of note in the meat n two veg/ Family sector that's remotely attractive, different.

attractive

The whole market will be similarly down over the same period.

Renault tried different and that didn't work (Avantime, Vel Satis) and I think the current Zoe, Clio Captur and Megane are attractive. Outside the UK the market seems to agree, so I think the UK dealer network may be where the problem lies?

Bob Cat Brian 20 July 2020

Jeremy wrote:

Jeremy wrote:

attractive

The whole market will be similarly down over the same period.

Renault tried different and that didn't work (Avantime, Vel Satis) and I think the current Zoe, Clio Captur and Megane are attractive. Outside the UK the market seems to agree, so I think the UK dealer network may be where the problem lies?

That and the UK obsession with the German marques.

Will be interested to see how all other manufacturers are affected, would think it would be the same for almost all.

Rick Maverick 21 July 2020

 

 

Will be interested to see how all other manufacturers are affected, would think it would be the same for almost all.

[/quote]

 

Don't you worry / have no illusion: Benz down the drain, VW Group bleeding heavily, BMW in misery, PSA stuggling. But, that was March / June. Many markets are recovering, notably China and France.

NoPasaran 20 July 2020

this is

just the beginning