Renault group revenues rose 3.2% year on year to EUR7.998bn in the third quarter of 2013. Automotive revenues were off 3.4% to EUR7.483bn, hit by foreign exchange rates and a drop in independent dealer stock. Registrations rose 3.1% to 614,888 units.
Registrations and market share increased in Europe thanks to new models (Clio, Sandero and Captur).
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International sales accounted for 52% of the group total despite Iranian political and social unrest.
The group is sticking with its 2013 outlook: sales growth, a positive automotive operating margin and a positive automotive operational free cash flow.
All regions, except Asia-Pacific, reported sales growth and improved market share.
Renault said Europe “appears to be stabilising at a low level” after growing 2.5% in the third quarter. The group posted a 10.2% increase in sales and a 0.6 point rise in market share, to 9.1%.
The Captur is now the top-selling B-segment crossover in Europe, the automaker claimed, in a segment well populated with established models like Nissan’s Juke and new entrants such as the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka and its Chevrolet Trax variant and the new Peugeot 2008 with Ford’s EcoSport due in soon.
Market share in France was 26.4% with a rise in registrations due largely to the success of the Captur and redesigned Clio which is the best-selling vehicle in France.
In the UK, where the market expanded 11.6%, the group benefited from the launch of the acclaimed Dacia range, with total registrations up 42.5%.
In Spain, where the struggling market rose 8.9% over the quarter, group registrations grew 30%.
The group also increased market share in Italy by nearly 2 points with registrations up 28.1% in a market down 3.9%.
In Germany, where the market continued to contract by 1.3%, group registrations fell 3%.
The Renault brand is ranked third in Europe, with 7% market share, up 0.2 points.
Dacia posted its best quarterly results ever, with a 2.1% market share.
Outside Europe, the Renault group grew 4.8% excluding Iran. Including the impact of the business activity in this country (- 23,000 units for the quarter), group registrations were down 2.6%. Sales outside Europe accounted for 52% of the total, down 3 points on 2012.
In the Americas Region (which excludes the US and Canada which Renault long ago abandoned -ed), registrations increased 0.5% in a market that decreased 2.8%.
In Brazil, the group’s second largest market, Renault won back market share and achieved its best quarterly score at 7.1%, after a first half-year that was disrupted by a production halt at the Curitiba plant needed to increase manufacturing capacity. In a market down 10%, following a particularly strong third quarter in 2012, group registrations fell 5.1% in Brazil.
In Argentina, the automotive market remained dynamic (up 18.7%) despite the economic situation, while group registrations were up 18.1%.
In the Eurasia region, sales volumes rose 18.2% in a market that fell 4.2%. In Russia, the market was down 7.8% but the group’s registrations continue to grow strongly (up 17.5%) thanks to the Duster. Russia is the third market for Renault globally while Renault is the second best selling brand there behind Lada.
Registrations in the Euromed-Africa Region were up 2.9% in a market down 4.6%. In Turkey, a market that grew 7.6%, registrations rose 34.3%, buoyed by the success of the redesigned Clio Symbol (a sedan version). Group registrations in Algeria fell 30.3% following the 23.4% market contraction over the quarter. In Morocco, Dacia and Renault brands were the market leaders with a 39.3% share of the market, up 5.2 points.
In Asia-Pacific, group registrations decreased 30.4% in a market that increased 6.1%. Excluding Iran, the group reported a 6.6% increase in the region. In India, sales were stable (down 0.6%) in a market that shrank 5.0%. The group posted a 1.6% market share (up 0.1 points), thanks again to the Duster.
In South Korea, the commercial situation stabilised and the group regained market share (up 0.4 points) through a 16.4% rise in sales, in a market that grew 6.0%.
