The financial and commercial results are always closely scrutinized. They give the temperature of the current year. Those presented by Renault Group are no exception to the rule, especially in this period of supply difficulties and tensions on the international scene.
Over the period between January 1 and March 31, 2022, the French manufacturer (Renault, Alpine, Dacia, Lada and Mobilize brands) sold 552,000 vehicles in the world. That is, volumes down 17.1% compared to the first quarter of 2021 (665,021 units). Logically, the company’s turnover contracted 2.7% to settle at €9.7 billion.
Numerous orders received
In terms of order intake, the group’s portfolio corresponds to 3.9 months of sales. “A record level for 15 years », emphasizes the company. It is still necessary now to be able to produce and deliver the vehicles in this context of shortage of raw materials and more particularly of semiconductors.
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« We have record accumulations of portfolios, approaching 850,000 vehicles on the French market that will have to be delivered sooner or later », recently entrusted to car info, Ivan Segalcommercial director Renault France.
“Today, we obviously manage delays with a frustrating period for the distribution networks, but we have to adapt. […] We try to do our best to announce reliable deadlines to our customers »he added.
In detail, the renewed product plan attracts customers. Thereby, the first coupe SUV of the brand – Renault Arkana – “records more than 9,000 orders per month in the first trimester ». The new Renault Mégane E-Tech (100% electric) attach « more than 10,000 orders in two months ».
At Dacia, the Spring electric mini-city car has had great success with “more than 9,000 sales in Europe and 20,500 orders recorded » over the last three months while concerning the new Dacia Jogger (both station wagon, minivan and SUV) the brand has registered “36,500 orders in four months.»
Finally, to a lesser extent, the new range of l’Alpine A110 allowed to increase sales of the berlinetta by 67% over the past quarter.
Privileged retail sales, sacrificed BtoB
In any case, the manufacturer remains confident in its new commercial strategy, some points of which are bearing fruit. “Value creation is at the heart of the Renault Group’s strategy and is reflected in the activity of the first quarter of 2022. Our sales on the most profitable channels continue to progress and the Group’s proactive commercial policy, deployed since mid-2020 bearing fruit “comments Thierry Piéton, Chief Financial Officer of Renault Group.
Regarding the most profitable channels, in the five main markets [France, Allemagne, Espagne, Italie et Royaume-Uni, ndlr], the share of sales to individuals stood at 69% compared to 54% last year. » Unsurprisingly, this performance is obtained to the detriment of fleet sales.
It’s about “of a cold and rational decision to manage vehicle shortages. We made the choice to optimize the most profitable channels in the short term. […] We hope that this situation will soon be behind us so that we can work on all channels again, since Renault aims to also work with companies. We are not worried about our ability to return to this market », explained Ivan Segal again to Auto Info.
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