The new Group chief executive Francois Provost is already making his mark at Renault, appointing former Mercedes executive Katrin Adt replacing a departing Denis Le Vot as head of Dacia.
The Romanian brand remains a stand-out success but will the influx of so many new-to-Europe Chinese rivals hit Dacia – and indeed Renault itself – hard? This report aims to lift the covers on what Renault Group’s two main divisions would rather keep secret concerning cars for the later 2020s and into the 2030s.
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Dacia
Given how well Dacia is now doing, few would even recall the big sales collapse of a few years ago. Renault Group has learned the lesson of keeping the new models coming and life cycles brought down from what had previously been too many years. The brand has also been cautious not to go all-in on EVs with the priority being affordable hybrids.
France, followed by Germany, Italy, Spain and to a lesser extent Britain remain the big markets for Dacia. While Europe-wide sales were more or less in H1 (ACEA data: 308, 957 versus 305,687 for H1 2024), in the context of what happened to certain other high-volume names such as Toyota, Audi, Opel/Vauxhall and Citroen a one per cent YoY gain was a great result.
So, what’s coming next to keep the metal moving out of a dealerships? It is believed that two models to take on the Skoda Octavia are on the way for launch in a year’s time. Dacia’s signature CMF-B architecture will be be basis of this crossover-hatchback and wagon, with their length around the 4.6 m mark.
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By GlobalDataWhat the next Spring will share with two Renaults
Of the existing range, the electric-only Spring will remain the entry point. Its main attraction is the low price and the short range has not hampered sales. Based on an aged Renault design for India and Brazil, the A segment crossover is due a successor in late 2027. The architecture should be the same CMF-BEV/AmpR as used by the Renaults 4 and 5.
Dacia’s best selling model is of course the Sandero and its Stepway crossover variant. Will there be an EV with the next generation? It would certainly seem so, along with mild- and series hybrids. The electric Sandero/Stepway could come later – perhaps in 2028 – but the next generation is due out within the next 24 months. We will learn more in November (2025) which is when the division’s future plans will be revealed at a special presentation.
Above the big selling B-sized hatchbacks sits the Jogger. In common with the Duster and Bigster below which this crossover estate is positioned, hybrid drive is available but not (yet) a PHEV alternative. Renault knows keeping costs down is essential for Dacia and its customers but a plug-in hybrid system is surely coming for all three of these vehicles. There could also be electric versions of the Duster and Bigster.
Future Jogger for the 2030s
Returning to the Jogger specifically, a facelifted model remains on schedule for launch in 2026 with the successor set for a 2029 debut. There will be an electric version but IC-power will once more continue as the default, potentially for much of the entire life cycle. i.e. until 2036.
The Duster has only been on sale for some 15 or 16 months now but already changes are planned, or rather new powertrain options. The diesel which is available for certain relevant markets is likely to go away in a few years’ time, effectively replaced by an electric alternative. A facelift for the whole range is expected to be announced during the second half of 2027 though it may not become available until 2028. Then in 2031 comes the next generation.
Dacia’s newest model is also its biggest, taking the marque up into the D segment. A 4.6 m long SUV, it also comes with available all-wheel drive and the choice of three-cylinder MHEV or four-cylinder HEV drive. Launched earlier this year, the life cycle should endure until 2032/2033 after a facelift in 2028/2029. An EV will more than likely arrive in a year or so. Confirmation of timings are likely being locked in right now as Katrin Adt prepares her own plan and launch cadence announcements for Q4.
Renault
Having just been revealed at the Munich IAA, generation six of Renault’s best selling Clio hatchback will soon be pushing hard against its Peugeot 208 and Toyota Yaris rivals. The new Clio retains the CMF-B platform of the outgoing car but is a little longer (4,116 mm) and wider, also coming with a slightly stretched wheelbase.
There is no electric version of the new Clio yet, Renault often keeping its EVs as bespoke models, examples including the 4 and 5. However, this won’t be the case here with an EV due to be added in 2027. And as for the life cycle, generation seven would be due in late 2032, a scheduled facelift for Clio 6 being pencilled in for 2029.
Boreal: the (almost) global SUV
Another fresh model, though this time not one for Europe, the Boreal was also recently revealed. This 4,556 mm long SUV is in fact a renamed and slightly altered Dacia Bigster for Latin America, Turkey, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and The Mediterranean Basin. Production is at plants in Brazil (Curitiba) and Türkiye (Bursa), the sole engine so far being a 1.3-litre turbo. The mid-cycle facelift should be in 2029 with a successor coming in 2032.
With the Alliance still strong though shareholdings having shifted somewhat, Nissan and Renault’s strategies in the Indian market have changed too. This hasn’t however, affected current products as yet, the Kiger having had a facelift in August. A replacement for this small SUV is scheduled for 2029 and while some say that model will be electric-only this seems doubtful. Speaking of EVs, battery versions of both the Kiger and Triber are scheduled to arrive in 2026.
500,000 sales/annum goal for India
Still with India, the Duster which has been around as a Dacia since 2024, is due to arrive there with Renault badges by year-end. The company needs this model rather badly too, as the present range of small cars managed to only just cross the 20,000 registrations barrier during the first eight months of 2025. As recently as April Renault’s management stated that it wished to be selling half a million cars a year in India from 2030 onwards. A more realistic target will likely be announced soon by the new CEO.
With year to date volume running at just over four times the amount of sales made by Renault India, the Brazilian division is clearly in a different league entirely. Number six in the market behind Toyota and in front of next placed Jeep (though BYD is catching both), the brand needs all the fresh products it can get. The new Boreal joins the old but still strong (and cheap) Kwid as well as the Kardian. This SUV should be built until 2031, a facelift being scheduled for 2027/2028.
Returning to Europe now, a new Twingo will soon be with us, Renault choosing not to overshadow the Clio’s premiere at the IAA by revealing it there. Officially due in 2026 and with a target starting price of 20,000 euro, production will be in Slovenia. The company sees the UK as a key market, the car having been engineered with right-hand drive too. Build at the Novo Mesto plant should continue until 2034.
RWD super-hatch to be followed by next Captur
Proof that the 5 will have many derivatives, including already the Alpine A290, has already been confirmed in the form of the 3E. This prototype of a wild rear-drive supercar debuted last December and is set for production in 2027. Only 1,980 examples will be made, 500+ PS is promised from a pair of 200 kW in-wheel motors, the architecture is to be specific to this model and body panels will be CFRP.
Some six months after the dramatic debut of the series production 5 Turbo 3E comes a far more mainstream model, this being the next Captur. It will follow the same engineering pattern as the Clio, meaning two platforms, one of which will be for the EV. Build should commence in the second half of 2027 and last for seven years, so expect a facelift in 2032.
Going higher now in terms of size, there is a whole cluster of related models for the European market’s D segment. Two of these, the Austral and Espace, have recently been facelifted, so their successors should appear in 2028 or 2029. Positioned just above the Espace is the Rafale, this Coupe-SUV being available exclusively in HEV and PHEV forms. Sales volume is low yet because so many components are shared with other large models a successor will likely be developed. Such a model would be due in 2031. There will surely be an electric variant of this vehicle.
The next report in Just-Auto’s OEM future models series will examine Nissan and Infiniti. It will be published on 22 September.
