Austral, Rafale, Espace, a facelifted Clio, the upcoming electric R5… Nothing is stopping Renault for now, and its strategy of pushing into high-end markets, prioritizing profit over volume, already seems to be paying off almost two years after its announcement. “Renaulution”. “, a broad strategy aimed at getting the Renault group back on track.

The group has just released its profitability targets for 2023, and the French group managed to recover its sales by focusing on the high segment.

Effective product positioning

After a loss of eight billion euros in 2021, Renault has recovered its position in 2022 and now expects an operating margin of 7-8% this year, compared with a margin of more than or equal to 6% previously. The group expects to exceed 7% by the end of the first half, with results due on July 27.

This zoom is explained “new successful launches” The Arkana and Austral SUVs, as well as the electric Mégane and Dacia’s good performance, where the Sandero still monopolizes the European podiums in terms of sales, while the Spring continues to attract customers looking to switch to electric vehicles.

Although Europe’s car market is still declining from pre-pandemic levels, “Demand for new high-end products remains high”emphasizes Thierry Pieton, financial director of the group, during the press conference.

More than half of Australian buyers choose the excellent Alpine Spirit finish.which are offered from €39,000, Renault says.

Nonetheless, “Logistics problems that have plagued the industry since spring 2022 continue to slow sales”, – emphasized Thierry Pieton, but we expect improvement in the second half. Order books remain well-filled, waiting for a car from two to three months.

We need to plan a large-scale offensive

To maintain this momentum, Renault plans to launch 12 new models in 2024. The electric Renault 5 aims to democratize electricity, while the Rafale, unveiled at the end of June at the Bourges Air Show, will be positioned as the group’s most profitable vehicle, with the price is about 50,000 euros.

Dacia will also introduce a new version of its Duster, and a new SUV, even bigger and inspired by the Bigster concept, is expected in the next few months.

In addition, Renault has announced ambitious targets for its Alpine brand, which aims to attract more affluent customers in Europe and the United States, particularly through its fame in Formula 1. A sporty city car based on the Renault 5 platform called the A290 will be launched in 2024, followed by a Dieppe-built SUV in 2025 and closely related to the Nissan Ariya.

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