World January 2013 Roundup: Low-cost range brings Renault back

Dacia Sandero

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Now that most January 2013 data is in, it is time for our monthly Roundup! Last month all the spotlights were on Chinese models with 3 of them topping in the lead in Bulgaria, Venezuela and Ukraine… In January we focus on Renault, Volvo and… well China again but through the exceptional performance of the VW Lavida.

Renault Duster

As it is the case for all French carmakers, Renault is struggling right now. But what became apparent in 2012 is what may save the French manufacturer is its low-cost range, sold under the Dacia or Renault brands depending on the country. Interestingly, with the 301 already #5 in Algeria, Peugeot could be in the same situation. Case in point, with the much improved new generation now widely available, the Dacia Sandero simply takes the lead in Spain thanks to 1,692 sales and 3.4% share while in France, after spending most of the month at #4, it lodges an excellent 6th place with 3,682 units and 3.9%, or nearly a full percentage point above its December market share. This is the Sandero’s first time in the French monthly Top 6 in 2.5 years…

Renault Clio Mio

Going up one notch in the range, the Renault Duster continues to impress: it climbs onto the Argentinean podium for the first time ever with with 3,944 sales and 3.7%, while in Russia it is up to a best-ever 4th spot with 5,374 units and 3.3%, reaching heights unheard of for an SUV since the legendary Lada 4×4…

Dacia Lodgy

But wait there are more reasons to be happy for the Renault Group this month: the facelifted previous generation Clio, renamed Clio Mio is already up to a fantastic 4th position in Argentina and Dacia manages to place 4 models in the monthly Top 5 at home in Romania for the first time in the 47 years existence of the brand: the Logan is #1 at 14.5% share, the Duster #2 at 6%, the Lodgy at a world-best #4 and 3.4% and the Sandero at #5 and 2.8%, only its third time in the Romanian monthly Top 5 in the last 2 years. Notice also the Dokker at a world-best #11…

VW Lavida

In China, the VW Lavida is up to an incredible 48,267 sales in just one month. This is almost 10,000 units above the previous Passenger Car monthly volume record in China of 38,362 sales detained by the Ford Focus last November, and the first time a Passenger Car sells upwards of 40,000 units in a single month. In fact in January 15 models sold over 20,000 units and 44 sold over 10,000, which are new records to be compared to just 9 and 27 respectively in the USA during the same month…

Volvo V40

If Saab has bitten the dust a couple of years ago, it would seem that the other Swedish manufacturer, Volvo, is in great shape at home thank you very much: for the first time in potentially 14 years, there are no less than 4 Volvos in the Top 5 this month in Sweden! The Volvo V70 is unsurprisingly in the lead, the S/V60 ranks #3 while the XC60 hits its highest ever ranking and share at home at #4 with 3.5% and the V40 is back up 4 spots to #5, the highest ranking so far for this generation, also reached last October. Note the Volvo V40 is also up to #5 in Finland.

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