Ute and larger SUV to drive Renault sales in Oz

Renault Australia has its eyes set on a Navara-based one-tonne light commercial and larger SUV models to help drive it to a four per cent market share Down Under.

The target, actually just under four per cent (between 36,000 and 40,000 sales per annum, on current market levels) is the medium-term goal for the brand, says Renault’s Asia-Pacific chairman, Gilles Normand.

The Ex-Nissan exec says this is the world average share for the Renault brand, pointing out that in markets where Renault is represented by a full line-up of models that share grows to around seven per cent.

Currently Renault Australia is on target to hit around a one per cent share (10,000 vehicles) in 2014.

Normand says more right-hand drive models and particularly a one-tonne ute range are must-haves to reach the share targets. The other key product is an SUV to sit above the X-TRAIL-based Koleos mid-size SUV.

“We are developing a one-tonne pick-up offer. This is in the plan,” Normand revealed.

“Definitely it will be based on an alliance product,” he added.

Normand said the vehicle would be on sale “around 2016 or that time”.

“It will take a little time because we want to have a significant styling differentiation. It needs to have its own identity at a public level,” Normand stated.

Although he would not confirm a manufacturing location, Normand said the vehicle could be built in Thailand for the Asia Pacific region.

Nissan’s new Navara (pictured), the vehicle on which it would be based, is built in the south-east Asian manufacturing hub and goes on sale here early next year.

Renault will also launch its Chinese offensive in 2016 from a new plant in Wuhan in the country’s south. The company’s strategy for the burgeoning market is SUV and crossover based, confirmed Renault-Nissan alliance boss Carlos Ghosn in Paris yesterday.

Renault Australia will be a beneficiary of this vehicle line development, confirms Normand.

“The new-generation Koleos is certainly something that fits well with [Australian] market requirements. [But the] Large crossover and Koleos successor will definitely be for Korea, China and all Asia Pacific [markets] and the other parts of the world,” Normand stated.

Normand said Chinese production of the new SUVs would be for Chinese consumption. South Korea will be the origin for a new larger SUV to sit above the Koleos, itself due for a redesign in 2015-2016.

“I don’t want to give you too much information,” Normand said of the new crossover. "[It's] Definitely a little bit larger than the Koleos, but definitely step by step [evolution], he stated.

Although Renault's Asia Pacific boss is proposing large targets for the French brand Down Under, he praised the current growth rates of Renault Australia and says the 40,000 car target is “not for tomorrow”.

“Until we get 3.6 per cent I’m not happy — to make it clear,” he explained.

“In a market that is open like Australia, doing a decent job, taking care of our customers, working with our dealer network, delivering product with appropriate features — right-hand drive, automatic transmissions also — I don’t see why Renault cannot be above 3.6 per cent market share,” he stated.

“I don't want to over commit and under deliver.

“We want to build it up steadily. This is not a short-term goal for 2016,” Normand said.