French
car maker Renault is forecasting 22% growth in sales this year in Venezuela. The
target, if achieved, would give the company a 9.2% market share.
The national importer and distributor, Sofaven, reported an increase of 2,086
units for 2000 giving a total of 7,704 and a 7.2 percent market share.
The Venezuelan government’s family car program featuring the Twingo and the
Energy 19 helped boost sales.
Sofaven is launching the Kangoo van, expected to account for five percent of
sales, as the first of four new model introductions this year.
Sofaven’s parent company SOFASA is considering the possibility of introducing
vehicles made by Renault-owned Dacia of Romania and Japan’s Nissan to the South
American markets in which it operates – Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador.
Sofasa, in which Toyota and Renault are shareholders, has an assembly plant
in Medellin, Colombia.
