Latest news with #Duster
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault Group H1 2025 revenue up 2.5% to €27.6 billion
Renault Group posted a 2.5 per cent year-on-year increase in its revenue for the first half of this year at €27.6 billion. According to the company's statement, automotive revenue stood at €24.5 billion, rising 0.5 per cent, backed by new launches such as the Bigster, Duster, and Renault 5. The Group's operating margin came in at €1.65 billion, representing 6 per cent of total revenue. However, net income plummeted to -€11.1 billion due to a €9.3 billion non-cash loss tied to the revaluation of its Nissan stake. Excluding the Nissan effect, the Group posted a net income of €461 million, demonstrating robust underlying fundamentals. CEO François Provost , who recently took charge, acknowledged that H1 results were below expectations but reaffirmed the company's focus on cost control, efficient capital allocation, and strengthening its European orderbook. 'Our strategy is clear—deliver value over volume and accelerate transformation in a disruptive market,' said Provost, pointing to strong customer demand and an agile portfolio across combustion, hybrid, and electric segments. Renault retained a high liquidity reserve of €15.8 billion and an automotive net cash position of €5.9 billion as of June 30. With improved cost discipline and a ramp-up in sales, the company expects to deliver a stronger second half and has maintained its full-year guidance of a 6.5 per cent operating margin and €1–1.5 billion in free cash flow. In Europe, the Renault brand ranked second in passenger and light commercial vehicles, while Dacia's Sandero and Duster models remained retail bestsellers. Alpine, the Group's performance brand, also saw sales soar by 85 per cent, the statement added.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Making sense of Nissan-Renault's SUVs heading to South Africa
Devised as Dacias and badged as Renaults in certain markets, the latest generation Duster and Boreal will be sold as Nissans built at the Chennai plant in India from 2026. Its product plans for South Africa revised at the beginning of the year, the reported confirmation by sister brand Renault on its new Boreal being under investigation for the local market, has provided the clearest hint yet of Nissan's incoming, still unnamed, new SUV. Approved for the local market in September last year after being teased in India five months before, the Nissan-badged Boreal will form part of a two-model roll-out, with the second set to be based on the all-new Renault Duster. '[These] products will be Nissan's answer to the Chinese competition in South Africa. We believe [India] is a good source to bring competitive and technologically advanced to market,' Nissan Managing Director for South Africa and Independent African Markets, Maciej Klenkiewicz, told the media on the sidelines of the facelift Magnite's launch in Cape Town in November. 'If you look at other products made in India [for South Africa], they are becoming more and more competitive and we, as Nissan, believe this is our future'. Set to be produced alongside the Boreal and Duster at the Chennai plant that currently builds the Magnite, Kwid, Kiger, Triber, the Nissan pair will differ visually and subtly inside, but retain the same mechanicals and, in the case of the Boreal version, offer seven seats. Back in May, Nissan Managing Director for India, Saurabh Vatsa, confirmed that while the facility now falls solely under Renault ownership, Nissan has no plans on leaving the Indian market. This stands in confirmation with Nissan Africa boss Jordi Vilas, who told local media at the launch of the Navara Stealth earlier this year month that the brand's remains committed to Africa and South Africa despite ongoing rumours around its Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria. 'We have a wonderful partnership and agreement with Renault, and when we were in charge of the plant, there were no production-supply problems for either partner, so why should there be any now?' Vatsa told Autocar India. 'Reports of our exit are all untrue, and there is no reason for us to exit.' In the same report, Vasta added that pre-production of the first Nissan-badged Renault had already started, which speculation has alleged could be the Duster Nissan will either rebadge once again as the Terrano, or under a different moniker. While a Nissan-badged version of the Renault Triber has also been approved for India from early next year, this model has not been approved for South Africa. At the other end of the scale, the Boreal-based Nissan, itself a restyled and adapted version of the Dacia Bigster, will be revised further to seat seven and not five as the latter. In a surprise though, it will be positioned below the X-Trail instead of replacing it outright. For its part, the Duster-underpinned model will indirectly succeed the Qashqai discontinued last year. 'In terms of the positioning of the vehicle and pricing, and technology, it won't cannibalise sales [of the X-Trail],' Vila said when asked about the possibility of the newcomer stealing sales of the X-Trail that will undergo in a refresh within the coming months. An effective five model SUV range that will be topped by the new Y63 Patrol next year, with the Magnite remaining the line-up's entry-point, more details will only be disclosed. For its part, the announcement to IOL about the Boreal for South Africa could result in the Symbioz being pulled, possibly as a result of price. This, after Renault revealed at its product plans conference for 2025 at the end of last year, that it is investigating the Symbioz for introduction in 2026 as the replacement for the long since discontinued Kadjar. As it stands though, this is purely speculative and will only be confirmed or dismissed next year. NOW READ: New products coming as Nissan approves two new SUVs for Africa
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Lofty price in tough segment not doing Renault Duster any favours
Petrol engine replacing the frugal diesel mill remains a sticky point for solid crossover. The Renault Duster has always been a bit of a dark horse. One of those vehicles that quietly built a cult following while everybody was chasing Japanese and German nameplates. The Duster was never flashy and never premium. And quite honestly nobody cared. It just worked. It was the rough-edged SUV you could actually afford. Now, in 2025, the Renault Duster has cleaned up, and grown into something that's more refined, while retaining most of its no nonsense roots. But the pricing has jumped up too and put the Duster into territory that is overflowing with choice. This said, what is the Duster like to drive? The elephant in the room The derivative The Citizen Motoring spent a week with was the Intens EDC 4×2. It's the middle-of-the-range model in terms of price, but the top-of-the-range in terms of spec. The Zen 4×4 MT costs more but offers a lower level of spec. If you need, or want, 4×4 capability, then this the compromise that must be made. The new Renault Duster features attractive rugged styling. Picture Mark Jones Let's get straight to the engine and drivetrain. It's probably the most controversial topic around the new Duster. Why? Because anybody who knew the previous Renault Duster, knows how brilliant the 1.5-litre 80kW/250Nm turbodiesel was. Punchy and ridiculously light on fuel. But the world has changed, and Renault don't offer this engine anymore. Today the Duster comes with a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine making more power at 113kW but the same torque at 250Nm. The new Duster's powertrain is paired with a seven-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission that sends the power down to the front wheels only. The box does it job. It's smooth and responsive enough without any jerkiness in traffic. And this is where the Renault Duster excels. In the suburbs and in traffic. The irony I know for a Duster, but not everybody wants to compete with a Toyota Hilux going up the side of a mountain on Sunday morning. ALSO READ: VIDEO: Renault Duster lives up to reputation as solid off-roader Petrol not as frugal as diesel Part two of the controversy is directly linked to fuel consumption. The previous turbodiesel offered numbers that saw owners getting under five litres per 100km. Renault says you should get 6.5L/100km with the new one. But the reality was I averaged closer to eight, with the car settling at 7.8 litres per 100km. I think that in a world where the Chinese can't get much below 10 litres per 100km for most of their very popular SUVs, this new petrol turbo's return is not bad at all. Being of the inside of the new Duster is a better place to be than the old one. There is still a lot of hard plastics around, but the cabin does feel more upmarket. You have a new 10-inch floating infotainment screen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, you get an updated digital cluster with clean graphics and customisable views. In the centre console you have USB-Cs, a wireless charging pad, and actual climate control buttons that are easy to use. The Duster features a digital instrument cluster. Picture: Mark Jones Renault Duster is a tight spot In terms of tech and safety, the Intens spec Duster features a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, and tyre-pressure monitoring into the mix. Cruise control is standard, and the rear-view camera is clear and helpful. ALSO READ: Smart new Renault Duster facing a tough battle against rivals I so desperately want to love the new Renault Duster. And I really like this Intens 4×2 EDC way more than I did the Zen 4×4 with manual box. But at R519 999, once again, there is just too much choice out there like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Chery Tiggo Cross to name only just two of the many crossover SUVs in this segment. The real problem for Renault is that too many of their competitors make a stronger bid for your money. And they will probably get it too. The Renault Duster is backed by a five-year/150 000km mechanical warranty, three-year/45 000km service plan and six-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault Group's H1 2025 sales up 1.3% amid electrification push
Renault Group recorded a modest 1.3 per cent year-on-year growth in global vehicle sales for the first half of 2025, selling a total of 1,169,773 units, as the company pushed ahead with its electrification strategy in the face of challenging market conditions in Europe and beyond. The Renault brand led the Group's performance, selling 808,413 vehicles globally — up 2.7 per cent compared to H1 2024. This growth was primarily fuelled by a strong showing outside Europe, where sales surged 16.3 per cent. Key growth markets included South Korea (up 150 per cent), Morocco (up 48 per cent), and Latin America, where Argentina saw a remarkable 96.7 per cent jump. The Grand Koleos and Kardian models played a critical role in this growth. The group has five core brands under its fold: Renault, Dacia, Alpine, Mobilize, and LADA. In Europe, Renault's passenger car sales rose by 8.4 per cent, defying a 1 per cent decline in the overall market. The Clio emerged as the best-selling vehicle across all channels, helping Renault climb to second place in European sales rankings. However, the Group's light commercial vehicle (LCV) performance faced headwinds. Renault's LCV sales dropped 22.8 per cent globally and 29 per cent in Europe, impacted by the end of the Renault Express lifecycle and the incomplete rollout of the new Master range. Dacia's global sales dipped slightly by 0.7 per cent to 356,084 units, primarily due to the rebranding of Duster in Turkey. However, Dacia Sandero maintained its stronghold as Europe's best-selling model to retail customers, while Duster remained the top SUV among private buyers. Alpine delivered a standout performance with sales nearly doubling to 5,015 units (+84.6 per cent), driven by the success of the A290 electric city car, crowned Car of the Year 2025. Renault's EV sales The Group's electrification strategy showed strong momentum. Electrified vehicles now account for 44 per cent of Renault Group's total sales, including 12.3 per cent fully electric models. Renault's electric vehicle sales grew 57 per cent, with the Renault 5 E-Tech emerging as Europe's best-selling B-segment EV. Hybrid sales also surged, with hybrid powertrains comprising over 41 per cent of Renault's passenger car sales. Looking ahead, Renault Group plans to launch seven new models in 2025, including the Renault 4 E-Tech, Dacia Bigster, Alpine A390, and the international Boreal. Two facelifts — Austral and Espace — and continued expansion of electric and hybrid offerings are also expected to bolster the Group's performance in the second half of the year.
Mint
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Renault's India encore: A ‘one-chef kitchen' strategy for a comeback
French carmaker Renault, which has made little headway in India in its 20 years here, is taking another crack at what it considers a strategically important market. The Paris-based carmaker claims to have learnt from its past mistakes. Renault India will be quick to respond to market needs, make consistent product launches and updates, and decision-making will be routed through one person, managing director Venkatram Mamillapalle said, contrasting it with the near-bureaucratic process earlier when it was married to Nissan. 'Today, we are one chef in the kitchen," he said, referring to Renault naming Stephane Deblaise as India CEO this week. He will take over from 1 September. 'Everything goes into one person or one power centre, and from there, it gets distributed and then cascades back. So, the responsibility and responsiveness will be terrifically good, which wasn't the case earlier," he said. Earlier, decision-making for Renault in India was complicated given its global alliance with Nissan, which also sells cars in India. The two companies will still collaborate in India, with Renault contract-manufacturing for Nissan, but the operations will not be as integrated as before, simplifying India-specific decision making for the French carmaker. Mamillapalle agreed that Renault missed a few tricks in India. For instance, it had launched the Duster and Kwid which turned out to be popular, but failed to maintain the momentum they generated by following up with regular updates and new launches. This was due to a lack of continuous investments in India, which he tied to global issues including financial struggles of the parent during the pandemic outbreak and its strained relationship with Nissan. 'Renault was at a sweet spot when they launched the Duster and Kwid, and later with the Triber and Kiger. But unfortunately, they were not able to sustain it with regular product updates," said Gaurav Vangaal, associate director at S&P Global Mobility, where he leads the light vehicle production forecast practice for the Indian subcontinent. In 2023, when Renault decided to revitalize its India operations after exiting China and Russia, its headquarters in Paris cleared a $600-million budget for four new cars for the country. The first of these was formally unveiled Wednesday as the refreshed edition of Triber, which is Renault's experiment at making a seven-seater car under four metres of length to benefit from India's small-car friendly tax structure. The Triber was launched to a lukewarm response in 2019, selling about 5,000 units a month in its first year against Renault's expectations of 7,000. Sales slowed to about 1,500 units a month as of 2025. Despite this, it manages to be Renault's top-seller in India, pointing to the French company's dismal performance in the country. Renault sold less than 40,000 cars in India in FY25, less than a quarter of what market leader Maruti Suzuki sells in a month. At its peak, it had sold about 135,000 units in FY17 with the success of Kwid and Duster. To remedy this, the company has planned regular product launches and investments in expanding its sales network. This will help it reach more customers across price points and geographical locations, as per Mamillapalle. On the product front, it will focus on SUVs across price points to cater to growing consumer demand for these vehicles, he said. The company did disclose the specifics of its product plans, but Autocar Professional has reported that the four planned launches include the updated Triber, Kiger and Duster as well as Bigster, which would be a seven-seater SUV based on the Duster platform. But getting customers back to its showrooms won't be an easy task for Renault. It will have to tick many boxes to win in a highly competitive market, S&P's Vangaal said. 'When Renault launched Duster, there were only a few SUVs in the market, and that too from the older generation. Today, the market is flooded with new-gen SUVs. Competition is intense and consumers are spoilt for choice," he said. Mamillapalle is unperturbed. 'I've got the biggest marketing agency, which is called product. The products will start getting customer focus, and they will build a brand as well," he said.
