Renault UK has recorded significant year-on-year increases in car and light commercial vehicle sales, making it the second fastest-growing automotive brand in the UK.
Compared to the year before, Renault UK passenger car sales climbed 31.7% in 2023 while van sales rose by a huge 95.3%, comfortably surpassing each market’s growth of 17.9% and 20.9% respectively.
Such was the increase in van sales that Renault jumped up the manufacturer rankings to fourth place. The brand sold a total of 27,781 LCVs last year – nearly doubling its 2022 performance – with market share rising to 7.96%. Kangoo, Master and Trafic all saw substantial uplifts in sales.
Renault also underlined its continued strong performance in the growing ‘green’ energy vehicle sectors. Of the cars it sold in 2023, 72% of those were electrified, up from 57.1% in 2022 and reaffirming the brand’s leading status in this segment. As an example, sales of the Megane E-Tech 100% electric increased by over 163% year-on-year.
With the nation’s car buyers having a recognised appetite for hybrid vehicles, the growth in green sales made Renault the fourth biggest seller of these vehicles in the UK during 2023. Hybrid versions of the Clio notably contributed to the result, sales of the iconic model being up nearly 60% compared to 2022 and illustrating there’s still a big demand for superminis.
The escalation of electrified vehicle sales highlights the effectiveness of the brand’s bold ‘Renaulution’ strategy, with last year’s figures proving that the plan’s enhanced focus on retail customers is also working. The increased sales resulted in Renault reclaiming a 2.5% share of the UK retail passenger car market and Renault Group moving up a position to number seven in the top UK automotive group ranking.
Guillaume Sicard, Country Head UK & Managing Director Renault Brand UK, said: “Renault UK has performed strongly in every sector within which it has a presence, far exceeding the market average and illustrating how the brand has evolved to provide the mobility solutions that answer the many needs of private and business customers. The rapid growth demonstrates the enthusiasm for the brand, and with forthcoming vehicles such as the Scenic E-Tech 100% electric, Rafale E-Tech full hybrid and all-electric Trafic E-Tech, 2024 is set to be even more exciting.”
