Renault posts 1.9% rise in first-half sales volume

PARIS (Reuters) -French automaker Renault (EPA:) said on Thursday its first-half sales volume rose 1.9% compared to the same period a year earlier due to strong performance of its hybrids in Europe, its key region.

The company sold 1,154,700 vehicles globally, compared to 1,133,478 units last year, with almost three-quarters of that volume going to Europe.

It said sales in Europe grew 6.7%, outpacing market growth of 5.5%, with electrified vehicles accounting for 29.6% of the group’s sales in the region, up 4.3 points versus 2023.

Renault returned to growth last year after four consecutive years of declining unit sales, and is hoping that 10 new launches this year will continue the momentum.

Second-quarter volume sales slowed, however, after an increase of 2.6% in the first quarter.

The company highlighted “very strong performance” in its Renault brand hybrids in Europe, but overall Renault brand passenger car volumes dipped 2% from last year’s first half to 573,149 units with much faster growth of 14.6% in light commercial vehicles.

Volumes of its low-cost Dacia brand grew 3.8%.