In a market in full revolution, a certain stability. The Renault group published this Thursday the results of its sales for the year 2024, a slight increase of 1.3% worldwide compared to 2023. Which represents 2,264 million vehicles sold, despite the slowdown in the European market , the French manufacturer announced in a statement.
If this year 2024 was marked by the launch of the R5, it was the hybrid models that consolidated the results. They now account for a quarter of the group’s sales, up 45% last year.
Second in hybrids in Europe
With a small engine and an electric battery that does not need to be plugged in, and that allows you to travel a few kilometers without burning gasoline, “it is the best compromise” for customers who “want a sustainable solution,” stressed the Renault brand. Director Fabrice Cambolive during a press conference.
The Renault brand occupies second place in hybrid sales in Europe behind Toyota, a pioneer in this technology that replaces non-hybridized gasoline and diesel engines. But the number 1 and 2 groups in the European market, the Volkswagen and Stellantis groups, intend to strengthen their offer of hybrid models in the coming months.
After having conquered the large SUVs, the hybrid is gaining market share against smaller models such as the Captur SUV or the compact Clio, and could continue to progress in countries that still hesitate before electric vehicles such as Italy or Spain, the director stressed. from Renault.
“It is the prelude to the transition to electricity,” summarizes Fabrice Cambolive.
Sales of zero-emission cars did not support Renault last year, as they only accounted for 9% of volumes. The Diamond group was, however, a pioneer in this type of engine.
Meet CO2 emissions targets
The group has every interest in this with the entry into force since January 1 of stricter European standards on CO2 emissions (CAFE), which force it to sell more electric vehicles under penalty of heavy fines. While Stellantis has teamed up with Tesla and Mercedes with Volvo to compensate for possible excesses, Renault and Volkswagen have not yet announced an alliance.
“Renault has all the offer to achieve the CAFE objectives”, with an average of 95 grams of CO2 per vehicle, stressed Fabrice Cambolive, “but we do not measure the level of demand, hence our face-to-face requests. in front of the European Commission. The ACEA automobile lobby is currently negotiating a relaxation of these CO2 rules.
“Our strategy allows us to play on two legs and adapt to the dynamics that we see in each European country”, with very different paths towards the electric car, stressed Fabrice Cambolive. “It gives us an agility that allows us to look at the coming months with confidence.”
R5, new Duster… All these models launched in 2024 reinforce the success of the second phase of the “Renaulution”, the strategic plan launched by the head of the Renault group, Luca de Meo, to relaunch it, according to Renault.
Two thirds of sales in Europe
In Europe, where the group generates more than two thirds of its sales, Renault is growing twice as fast (+3.5%) as the market, which remained stagnant in 2024. The affordable Dacia Sandero remains the best-selling vehicle in the continent and Dacia (+2.7% in 2024) intends to accelerate even further in 2025 with the arrival of the Bigster family model.
The group, however, is falling in markets outside Europe with “variations closely linked to the product plans and the geopolitical situations of each country,” explained Fabrice Cambolive, such as the devaluation of the Argentine peso or the arrival of very aggressive competitors to Mexico.
The arrival of new SUV models should boost sales in the first half of 2025, a brand spokesperson hopes.
Source: BFM TV
