Brazil becomes Renault’s second-best global market

By Redação AutoIndústria | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

Brazil gained a new and strategic status in Renault’s universe in 2022. With 126.7 thousand sales, the country became the French brand’s second-largest market globally. It was surpassed only by France, the manufacturer’s birthland, where it sold close to 336 thousand automobiles and light commercial vehicles.

In 2021, Brazil was fourth-placed, trailing Germany and Russia. Last year, Germans bought 100.4 thousand Renault vehicles and were just the third largest market with a slight margin over the Turkish market, which bought 99.6 thousand units.

Renault’s world sales reached 1,466.7 units, 9.4% less than the previous year’s. Brazil represented close to 8.6% of the brand’s global business.

Europe is still Renault’s main consumer pole, with 832.6 thousand vehicles. 634.1 thousand units were sold on other continents. With an 8% sales increase to 283.1 thousand vehicles, Latin America was one of the main manufacturer’s markets last year.

Argentina, with 26%, and Mexico, with 30%, had the largest advances in the region, selling 44.7 thousand and 36.6 thousand vehicles. These two countries were the brand’s 11th and 12th largest markets.

The European share, 6.4% – 0.7% less than in the previous year – was due mainly to the electrified vehicle sales evolution, including fully-electric, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, but not mild-hybrids.

Renault became the third brand in electrified passenger cars, with more than 228 thousand vehicles sold. This result represents a 9% growth over 2021 and paves the way for Renault to have about 65% of its sales in the continent concentrated on electrified vehicles.

The E-Tech line (electric and hybrid), strengthened by the 100% electric Megane in the second half of last year, now represents 39% of Renault’s passenger car sales in Europe, where the market average is about 31%.

And there is more to come. Fabrice Cambolive, Renault brand’s COO, tells: “In 2023, Renault’s growth will be granted by our E-Tech range, a full year of sales of the 100% electric E-Tech Megane and the new Austral E-Tech, and four important new launches.