+++ Renault bought DACIA from the Romanian government in 1999, probably not realising at the time that the brand would become an important pillar of the French group 25 years later. A clever move that enabled Renault to have its own centre for automotive development in Eastern and Central Europe. Romania was slowly awakening after years of communist rule and there was a great demand for vehicles. Renault was able to breathe a sigh of relief and maintain its independence, especially thanks to Dacia. By selling affordable and competitive models, the French company found a way to increase its presence outside Europe and earn more money. However, Dacia’s power within the group has grown to such an extent that one wonders whether the brand could become a threat to Renault itself. In 2000, the first full year that Dacia was under Renault’s control, sales from the Romanian market accounted for only 2 percent of Renault’s sales. Outside Romania and Eastern Europe, Dacia was an unknown brand with a very old product line. As a company that had long been run according to communist economic rules, it was bureaucratic, inefficient and completely disconnected from reality and the needs of European customers. The same could be said of other car brands. Think of Oltcit in Romania, FSO Polonez in Poland, AvtoVAZ (Lada) in the Soviet Union, ZAZ in Ukraine and Zastava in Serbia. The Czech company Skoda also belonged to this group, but despite Renault’s efforts, it was taken over by the Volkswagen Group in 1991 and turned a profit. Thanks to Renault, Dacia’s worldwide sales tripled in just 5 years, reaching 150.000 units in 2005 following the launch of the first generation Logan, designed by Renault not only for Romania and Eastern Europe, but also for emerging markets such as North Africa and Latin America. In 2008, after a full year on the market with the Sandero, Dacia sold nearly 260.000 units, representing 11 percent of the Renault Group’s volume. In the same year, Renault Brazil began selling the Sandero under the Renault brand, so Dacia’s total sales were higher in real terms. In Germany, the basic Sandero, which cost around €7.000 at the time, benefited massively from the ‘scrappage scheme’ in 2009. In 2011, the first full year of the Duster, the volume rose to 343.000 units. Dacia’s total sales totalled 814.000 units out of the Group’s 2.72 million units. Dacia’s rapid growth has helped improve the French group’s financial results with a fairly simple formula: Dacia positions itself as a low-cost brand and offers competitive cars that utilize the technology of previous Renault generations. This has facilitated production and reduced costs, which has helped to offer the new vehicles at very attractive prices. The problem is that Dacia is now the fastest growing brand and sometimes products within the same group compete with each other, think of the Sandero against the Clio in Western Europe or even the Duster against the Captur. The positioning of each brand is certainly different, but as the Dacia brand cars are getting better but are still significantly cheaper, many people are inclined to buy them. In emerging markets, Renault’s image now even mirrors that of Dacia, which has a larger range. So will we see more Dacia than Renault in the near future? Only the future will tell… +++
+++ The Dacia Sandero takes the throne in EUROPE in January 2024 sales. The Romanian compact is confirmed as the best-selling car in the overall rankings, according to data collected by Jato Dynamics . This data also shows a new entry in second position in the rankings compared with 2023. The Volkswagen Golf is back in force for the first time in a while. The Sandero, the Golf and the Yaris Cross (the latter in third place) all open the new year with very positive growth percentages compared with the same month in 2023. The 25.038 Sandero registrations in January put it well ahead of its 2 closest rivals. In fact, just behind Dacia, we find a very close ranking, with several models within a few hundred units of each other. Second place in the ranking is occupied, much to everyone’s surprise, by the Volkswagen Golf (18.563), a historic model in Europe in terms of sales, which had fallen quite low in recent months. However, its comeback, like that of the Skoda Octavia in 4th place, may have been caused by a high number of stock registrations desired by the 2 manufacturers themselves, in view of the 2 restyling entries. Third place goes to the Toyota Yaris Cross, with a total of 17.320 units registered. At the foot of the podium, behind the Skoda Octavia for just 24 units, we find the Peugeot 208, closely followed by the Citroën C3 (+51% compared with 2023), itself followed by another car from the Stellantis universe, namely the Peugeot 2008 (+29% compared with January 2023). As for the top 25 models, the rankings for the first month of the year continue to be fairly varied. There is no shortage of SUVs, as well as compact cars and saloons. The results of the everlasting Tesla Model Y, up 60% on the same month in 2023 but still in 20th place, and the Kia Sportage, in 9th place but up 40% on the previous year, are particularly noteworthy. The 8th place goes to the Volkswagen T-Roc with 14.739 sales (-17%) and the Renault Clio finished at the bottom of the top-10 with 13.846 sales (-1%). The ranking of the best-selling car manufacturers is also interesting. Once again, Volkswagen confirms its position as leader, despite a 4% fall compared with January 2023. At 77.737 vehicles registered, however, we find Toyota in second place, up 8% on January 2023. Surprisingly, third place is occupied by a top-of-the-range brand, BMW, up 60% on the previous year, with a total of 60,240 vehicles registered. The fourth and fifth places are occupied by Skoda and Peugeot, all of which are showing positive signs. 6th place is occupied by another top-of-the-range brand, Audi (+11%), followed in 7th place by Dacia, up 8%. 8th place, on the other hand, is occupied by the second brand in the ranking with a negative sign, namely Mercedes (-1% compared with January 2023). Lastly, the ninth and tenth places are occupied respectively by Kia and Hyundai, up by 9% and 6%, but very close in terms of the number of vehicles sold. +++
+++ MINI ’s new product onslaught is set to continue with an all-new Convertible version of the new Cooper hatchback that will arrive this summer. This follows the launch of all-new petrol and electric Countryman and Cooper models, with the 5-door all-electric Aceman due to be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show in April. The new Cooper Convertible will be built in Oxford and Mini boss Stefanie Wurst said: “We’ll unveil the new Convertible in the summer and a JCW will follow around the time of the Paris Motor Show”. Wurst wouldn’t, however, confirm whether the BMW Group, including Mini, planned to be at October’s Paris show or whether the Convertible JCW would be launched at a separate event. Oxford-built petrol-powered Minis should reach customers in May, with the Cooper Convertible likely to share the hatch’s 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre engines, the former producing 156 hp and the latter 204 hp. The JCW Cooper is likely to get a 300 hp version of the 2.0-litre engine, while all Coopers will now come with 7-speed automatic gearboxes with manual not even an option. An electric Cooper Cabriolet could also follow when production of the all-electric Cooper Hatch starts at the Oxford factory in 2026. Until then electric versions of this Mini will be built in China. The current Convertible is made in the Netherlands, but production there has ceased with the introduction of the new model. Mini in Oxford will focus on internal combustion-engined Coopers until 2026, when it will be joined by the all-electric version. Since the BMW Group launched its first Mini in 2001, over 4.4 million units have been built in the United Kingdom, including 150.000 all-electric models. +++
+++ The future of the NISSAN GT-R has long been debated. Even though it was withdrawn from some markets in Europe a few years ago for reasons related to emissions and noise regulations for new models, ‘Godzilla’ remains popular all over the world, including Japan of course. It is precisely from the Land of the Rising Sun that some rumors are coming in about the current generation R35, which could leave the market as of 2025. Launched in 2007 and constantly renewed, the R35 is certainly one of the longest-lived supercars ever produced. However, next year could mark the end of this model, at least as we have come to know it. Nissan is planning a final version of 1.500 examples, 300 of which will be signed Nismo. It is not clear whether these models will be dedicated exclusively to Japan or to all markets and, at the same time, it is not specified whether there will be changes to the aesthetics, equipment or powertrain. In this regard, there have been reports in the past of a possible V6 potentially touching the 710 hp and 780 Nm of the Italdesign GT-R50. Meanwhile, in Japan, the GT-R was recently updated with Model Year 2024. For the occasion, the styling and interior have been revised and the new Nismo Special Edition and T-Spec trim have been added, while the 3.8-litre 6-cylinder delivers 570 hp (600 hp in the Nismo). The fact remains that after 2025 Nissan may concentrate all its efforts on the next generation. The latest rumors speak of a 100% electric model based on the Hyper Force concept arriving by 2030, which could be equipped with solid-state batteries. Thus, the GT-R could have performance capable of seriously challenging its European competitors. +++
+++ OPEL will take its assault on the SUV segment up a notch in the coming months with the launch of 2 new models. Leading the charge will be the Frontera, a replacement for the ageing Crossland. But the maker will hope to bolster profits further by overhauling its Grandland flagship. Based on the same STLA Medium platform as the forthcoming Peugeot 5008, the next-generation Grandland will grow in length to around 4.700 mm. However, Opel won’t offer the option of 7 seats and will instead prioritize boot space and room for those in the second row. This will be boosted by lengthening the current car’s wheelbase. Visually, the Grandland will become squarer and chunkier. While existing spy pictures disguise the intricacies of the car’s design, we can pick out the Mokka-inspired front end, with a more upright ‘Vizor’ panel and sharp LED lights. The bonnet will be flatter and set higher, meeting a raked windscreen and raised roofline. That roof stays tall right the way to the tailgate, which drops off sharply to ensure the new Grandland’s load volume is strong: a figure of more than 500 liters with the rear seats in place isn’t out of the question. The rear of the car remains under wraps, although we expect the SUV to inherit a slim, arrow-like lighting signature like the one found on the Corsa and Mokka models. The Grandland’s shape and size mean it’ll sit somewhere in between cars like the Nissan Qashqai and the larger X-Trail this time around. However, unlike those models, Opel’s biggest SUV will be offered as both a hybrid car and electric car. We can look to the Grandland’s Stellantis siblings for an idea of the details; it’ll almost certainly mirror the latest 5008’s engine range, including that car’s 320 hp dual-motor EV option. Fitted with the biggest 98 kWh battery, that should make the Grandland Electric capable of 640 km on a charge. A single-motor model will also be offered, either with the 98kWh battery (producing 220 hp) or a more affordable 73 kWh unit (204 hp); the latter good for around 500 km of range. Alongside the electric offerings, Opel will fit the Grandland with a selection of hybrid powertrains. We can expect a 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol with 136 hp, as well as a 1.6-litre petrol-electric plug-in offering at least 65 km (and probably more) of zero-emissions range. Despite the SUV’s positioning within the Opel line-up, I don’t expect any diesel engines. The interior will be completely different to the outgoing Grandland’s, with more tech and superior quality. This should help justify the new car’s elevated starting price of around 46.000 euro, or close to 57.000 euro for the EV. Expect dual screens, with fully digital dials and wireless phone connectivity. Opel’s recently rationalized trim structure will likely be carried over to the new car. The base Grandland should come with a strong level of kit, with GS throwing sporty flourishes and dark trim elements into the mix. The Grandland Ultimate will top the range, bringing higher-quality materials, plus bigger wheels and access to the full range of engines. The new Grandland will be revealed in the spring, at around the same time as the Frontera; a boxy crossover set to share its ‘Smart Car’ platform with the new Citroën C3. With the Mokka, the 2 new Opels will complete a 3-strong SUV line-up. +++
+++ The RENAULT ZOE is one of the most popular electric city cars on the market, but over the years it has been replaced by other competitors. These include the electric Opel Corsa and the Peugeot e-208, while the new Citroën ë-C3 and Lancia Ypsilon are also claiming a slice of the cake. If you were interested in buying the new Zoé, it’s too late. The Renault has quietly bid farewell to the Spanish market, and this decision will soon be extended to many other European countries. But let’s face it, this car set the standard for many competitors and, even today, it has survived with dignity. If you’re looking to buy an electric city car from Renault, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the new Renault 5 E-Tech. +++
+++ India and Italy are not the only countries in talks with TESLA about building a Gigafactory. For some time now, the American manufacturer has been looking for an ideal location to build a new factory dedicated to the production of batteries and cars. Today, Thailand has been added to the list. There was a recent meeting between executives of the American company and the Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin. According to the Prime Minister’s statement, Tesla would have carried out an inspection at the end of 2023 to assess the feasibility of the project. For its part, the government of the peninsula would have offered a 3.2 million square metre plot of land, with the possibility of supplying the entire factory with “green” energy. We’ll soon find out what Tesla has decided, as the American brand is expected to start building the factory (wherever it is) by the end of 2024. Nonetheless, Thailand could play several cards in its favour to make it even more attractive than other countries. Bangkok is the leading vehicle manufacturer and exporter in the South East Asian region and aims to become the main hub for electric car production in the near future, as well as one of the most important markets in the whole of Asia. In terms of figures, over 2 million vehicles are currently produced in Thailand every year. In fact, Tesla has only recently arrived in the country, with orders for its models opening in late 2022, with the first deliveries taking place in 2023. In short, will the next Tesla speak Thai (too)? +++
