French car maker Renault has recorded its best February sales result since the brand was reintroduced in Australia more than 20 years ago.
Official new-car sales data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows more than 1000 Renault vehicles were reported as sold in Australia in February 2022 – a staggering 248 per cent increase compared to the same month the prior year, in an overall new-car market that was up 1.6 per cent.
This is the biggest February result for Renault in Australia on record – and one of the highest tallies since the brand switched to an independent distributor last year.
The other high point under the new distributor was set in June 2021, when more than 1100 examples of Renault cars were reported as sold.
From 2001 to early 2021 the distribution of Renault cars in Australia was handled by a local head office established after the joint venture between Nissan and Renault in 1999.
However, Renault switched to an independent distributor in Australia last year after five years of continuous sales decline and the weakest results in almost a decade under the guidance of Nissan-Renault.
After a peak of 11,525 annual sales in 2015, Renault had been in freefall in Australia ever since – and had reduced its model range to two SUVs, one hot hatch, and three vans.
“Our priority is to stabilise the brand and stop the sales decline … before we plan a new period of growth,” said Glen Sealey, the general manager for Renault Cars in Australia.
While Renault’s February sales surge was a combination of backorders and current demand, the company says it could be hamstrung by stock shortages in the coming months, as is the case across much of the industry.
Renault’s recent upswing in sales may on the surface not be significant to prospective and existing Renault buyers in Australia, but the turnaround dramatically improves the longevity of its local operations and the dealer network – and brings peace of mind to customers looking for parts and service support in the future.
The new distributor of Renault vehicles, Ateco, is Australia’s largest independent vehicle importer and has been handling start-up and established brands since 1985.
Ateco has previously handled such brands as Suzuki (1985 to 2000), Volkswagen (1988 to 1991), Audi (1988 to 1991), Citroen (1993 to 2013), Fiat (2002 to 2012), Alfa Romeo (1998 to 2012), Kia (2000 to 2006), Ferrari (2005 to 2013), Lotus (2011 to 2016), Maserati (2005 to present), Great Wall Motors (2009 to 2016), Chery (2011 to 2018), Foton (2013 to 2017), Ssangyong (2012 to 2018), LDV (2015 to present), Ram (2016 to present) and Renault (April 2021 to present).
Keyword: Renault posts sales record in Australia after switch to independent distributor