2005 ANNUAL REPORT - Renault

Light commercial vehicles
Number one in Europe
Renault had another Registrations totaling nearly 310,000 units gave Renault
vintage year for light a 14.4% share of the market in 2005, compared with
commercial vehicles, 14.8% in 2004, when close to 306,000 vehicles were
confirming the number-one sold.
place in Western Europe After eight years on the market, Kangoo remained
it first won in 1998. number one in Europe on the small van segment with
over 105,000 new registrations in 2005, representing
19.9% of its market segment. In the leisure activity
vehicle segment, Kangoo was a top-seller with over
58,000 units registered in Europe. Continuing the Kangoo
tradition, the Kangoo Generation 2006 launched in October
2005 shows a natural bent for fun with friendly lines
and practical design.
On the van market, up 3.1%, Renault took the numbertwo
place, practically level with Ford, and had a market
share of 13.4% – eight-tenths of a point higher than
in 2004. Growth was strong in the segment,
with registrations up 10.4% to nearly 138,000.
Master had a 6.4% share of the
New Special Vehicles
European van segment.
Department
Renault makes three kinds of special vehicle –
customized vehicles for fleets such as those operated
by the French post office and electricity company,
adaptations made with partner firms such as the stretch
version of the Kangoo van, and body conversions such
as ambulances and refrigerated vans. They are generally
sold directly through the Renault network.
Among its first initiatives, the new department has
established a contractual framework for relationships
between Renault and bodymakers with a view
to consolidating existing partnerships and ensuring
the necessary standards of quality and service. Renault
is thus developing the resources needed to respond
to growing demand in the sector, which accounts
for 30% of Trafic and 40% of Master sales.
30 2005 Renault Annual Report
Trafic saw European registrations reach almost 62,000
to account for 6% of the van segment. It ranked second
for the first time, behind the Volkswagen Transporter
but ahead of the Mercedes Vito.
On a relatively stable market for passenger-carrying
vans, Trafic scored a 15.9% rise in sales driven by Trafic
Generation, launched in 2004, and Trafic Passenger,
launched in 2003.
Master posted nearly 66,000 registrations in Europe –
10.1% more than in 2004 – setting market share
at 6.4%.
With Master, Renault has taken its place on the camper
van segment, a move initiated in 2003 that has led
the LCV Division to work with a dozen European firms
specialized in leisure vehicles. In 2005, over 8,000
Renault chassis were made for this market, which
represents annual unit sales of 80,000 in Europe.
At the same time, the Renault group's LCV sales have
expanded internationally and almost 82,000 vehicles
were sold outside Europe, 10.7% more than in 2004
and making up 11.9% of total sales.
Special-purpose vehicles – a profitable
niche for Renault.