Renault and Dacia increase sales in 2024, first electric Dacia in 2027

Both Renault and its low-cost daughter, Dacia, have increased their sales in 2024. The Renault Group sold 2,264 million cars worldwide (+1.3%), and two-thirds of these 1,59 million) were sold in Europe. Dacia sold 676,340 cars, 2.7% more than last year. Meanwhile, the brand has announced its first EV for 2027.

Those growth percentages may seem low, but in an environment where many competitors registered regress, the French manufacturer can be proud of the result. For example, the big (half) French competitor Stellantis has recorded a 12% minus in its 2024 sales.

Renault: Hybrid Leads success

At Renault, the results are mainly due to the rising popularity (especially in France) of its hybrid cars (full hybrid, not PHEV). In 2023, 25% of all Renaults were hybrids, 45% more than in 2023. In contrast with its biggest competitor in France, Stellantis, Renault has chosen a full hybrid rather than a mild hybrid.

A survey of CSA research in France ordered by the automobile platform (PFA) on the perception of electrified cars explains why this system has regained popularity. A large majority of French buyers still seem skeptical about fully electric cars and prefer hybrids. 57% of the people surveyed think electric cars aren’t the right solution to fight the climate crisis.

Gilles Le Borgne, former technical director at Renault and still a close advisor of CEO Luca de Meo, comments: “We absolutely have to convince the ‘electro-skeptics’ and the ‘electro-prudent.’ Are EVS the right solution for the environment and the climate? Yes, three times yes!”

He explains that while a full hybrid car still has an average CO2 emission of 100 gr/km, an electric car has zero when it uses green electricity. “In 2030, the share of EVs will have to be 50% of the market to cope with the EU regulations; in 2025, Renault will have to sell 22% BEVs.”

There’s still a way to go, as Renault only sold 9% of fully electric vehicles last year. The good news is that the launch of the brand-new R5 Electric immediately raised this share to 12% in Q4.

Dacia: Sandero and Duster lead the pack

Among individual buyers in Europe, Dacia was number one in 2024, with 8.2% of all sales. Of the 676,340 cars Dacia sold in 2024, 309,392 were Sanderos, 46% of the total. The model sold almost 15% more than in 2023 and has been the market leader for individual buyers since 2017.

The Duster sold 215,024 units in 2024, 7.3% more than in 2023, and is the second most popular model for individual buyers in Europe. Since 2016, Dacia has already sold more than 2.5 million Dusters.

On the contrary, sales of the full-electric Spring faltered in 2024. The introduction of more attractive and affordable EVs clearly influenced the sales figures: -63%, resulting in 22,824 units sold. The seven-seat Jogger estate is the third most popular Dacia, with 96,440 cars sold in 2024.

Looking into the future

In 2025, Dacia has high hopes for the recently introduced Bigster, its largest and most expensive car. Dacia wants to expand its portfolio into the C-segment while still being a price-breaker compared to most of its competitors.

Of course, Dacia is much less electrified than the Renault brand, so Dacia’s CO2 performance will be key for Renault to comply with the stricter EU CO2 targets for 2025.

Dacia’s strategy for the next couple of years will push toward hybridization of the whole range. Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot said Dacia will offer the recently launched Bigster compact SUV with a 155-hp full hybrid powertrain and a 48-volt mild hybrid. A four-wheel-drive automatic powertrain, also hybridized, will be launched by the end of 2025 on both the Duster and the Bigster.

With the Bigster, Dacia wants to attack the lucrative C-segment. A hybridized version is on its way /Dacia

Le Vot recently said that full-hybrid versions account for 30% of Duster and 25% of Jogger sales, and he expects an even higher percentage for the Bigster. He said this kind of share is not typical for Dacia, but it is due to the high conquest rate of these cars from higher segments and other mainstream brands.

Le Vot said that the next-generation Dacia Sandero small hatchback will gain a full-electric variant toward the end of 2027. The Sandero will offer a “full-electric solution,” he told reporters on a Jan. 16 call announcing the brand’s 2024 vehicle sales. Le Vot did not provide more details.

The Renault Group’s new Renault 4 and 5 Electric are based on the AmpR Small platform. Renault’s strategy has been to allow Dacia to use fully amortized technology from the group to keep costs down, so a future Sandero EV could be based on a version of that platform.

The Sandero (Stepway version pictured) is Dacia’s best-seller for years and Europe’s most popular car for individual buyers. It will be the first to be fully electrified in its next version in 2027 /Dacia

 

 

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