Renault Nordic, a wholly-owned Renault subsidiary, has started operations distributing and servicing vehicles through a network of 350 dealers covering the four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
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Around 22 new models and engines suited to cold weather conditions will be launched on the Nordic market this year and next.
A training programme will be set up for the 170 employees of the Nordic subsidiary and the 4,000 workers in the dealer network.
“I am delighted that we have managed to sign agreements with practically the whole distribution network in the Nordic countries. That means we are starting up our sales and after-sales operations with strong coverage, and that guarantees top service levels for our customers. Through our network, we will invest to expand our business in the region,” said Renault Nordic CEO Alain Margaritopol.
The new Renault Nordic subsidiary, based in Stockholm, Sweden, is an investment of EUR24m by the French automaker.
“Renault’s goal is to raise passenger car and LCV sales in the Nordic countries from 34,976 in 2006 to around 45,000 by 2009,” added Margaritopol. “The region has been identified as a growth target in the upcoming years.”
Renault Nordic runs the support functions shared by the four country units and assists with sales and service through 350 outlets. The core of the network comprises 160 dealerships.
Dealers will be supplied by the spare parts warehouse in Boras (Sweden), which stocks more than 15,000 part numbers in an area of 10,000m². The warehouse was built and put into operation in just eight months.
Spearheading Renault’s Nordic offensive is a wave of new products including 10 new vehicles and engines in 2008, of a total of 22 under the Renault Commitment 2009 plan.
Vehicles already announced include the redesigned Laguna in sedan and GrandTour (wagon) versions, the Clio GrandTour (a new longer version), the redesigned Kangoo in passenger car and van forms and the new (longer) Grand Modus. Renault will also launch new engines and fuels in 2008, with eco2 and E85 vehicles.
The range of services on offer to dealers and their customers includes financing from Renault Finance Nordic, a branch of RCI Banque. From January 2008, a full range of financial products will be offered to individual and business customers and the network (stock financing). A range of vehicle and loan insurance products will be offered from the second half of 2008.
All of this will be supported the head office in Stockholm and field teams in all countries. Renault will employ a total of 170 people, 100 of those in the head office, located in Kista, north of Stockholm. The Renault Nordic personnel in fact represent 20 different nationalities.
“That diversity and range of skills are essential to succeed in an environment as diversified as the four Nordic countries. The Nordic zone comprises four countries, four languages, four tax systems, four currencies and great cultural diversity,” noted Margaritopol.
