Renault Group reports a slight decline in overall vehicle sales for the first half of the year, with total registrations reaching 1,165,133 units, a 0.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite this modest drop, the company maintains near-stable global sales amid geopolitical challenges. In Europe, Renault recorded 821,092 new car registrations, marking a 1.3 percent decline, yet remaining the group’s largest market. The European market continues to show resilience, with personal and light commercial vehicles accounting for the bulk of the sales. Within the European region, Renault achieved notable growth, selling 528,849 passenger cars, an increase of 2.6 percent over the previous six-month period. This performance has been highlighted by Ivan Segal, the group's senior vice president for global sales and operations. He noted that Renault has maintained a seven-consecutive-half-year growth trend, emphasizing confidence in the brand’s potential for further expansion. “We are riding the right wave with electric vehicles,” Segal remarked, pointing to strong demand for electrified models across key markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. The shift toward electrification is evident in Renault’s product lineup. Over 26.6 percent of all vehicles sold in Europe were fully electric, surpassing the European average by 10.3 percentage points. This figure reflects a growing consumer preference for sustainable transportation options. Among the electric models, the Renault 5 led with a 35 percent sales increase in the B-segment, while the newly refreshed Mégane saw a 27 percent rise, and the Scénic increased by 23 percent. Although specific figures for the Twingo, which was recently launched, have not yet been released, Segal described the order book as “fantastic.” While electric vehicles dominate the conversation, internal data suggests that traditional combustion engine models still play a role in driving growth. For instance, the Clio and R5 models, both new entries in the B-segment, showed mid-year growth, collectively exceeding 20,900 additional units sold compared to the first half of 2025. Segal emphasized that the strategy focuses on profitable sales channels rather than chasing growth at all costs. Recently, Renault reduced its rental car business due to concerns over declining values in the used car market. He explained that frequent returns of rented vehicles negatively impact residual values, making the sector less attractive. In contrast, Dacia, part of the Renault family, has taken a more cautious approach to electrification. With 284,021 registrations in Europe during the first half of the year, Dacia accounts for nearly one-third of the group’s total European sales. Frank Marotte, higher executive for global sales, marketing, and operations for the Dacia brand, stated that the second quarter showed improvement, bringing results close to those of the previous year despite challenging geopolitical conditions. However, the first quarter remained weaker, with 327,077 registrations globally, 8.1 percent fewer than the same period in 2025. Looking ahead, Dacia plans to introduce two new models and launch the updated Striker, a mid-sized van starting from €25,000, targeting customers who have not previously purchased electric vehicles. The brand aims to expand its footprint in the electric vehicle space while maintaining affordability and practicality. As the automotive industry continues its transition toward sustainability, Renault’s mixed strategy, balancing electric innovation with traditional models, appears to be paying off in key European markets.
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