NI wants bigger slice
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• Renault Trucks "performed quite well" last year says sales and international affairs director Shemaya Levy, and despite a poor showing in the UK, Renault's worldwide commercial vehicle sales were up to 82,312 a 13.5% increase over 1987.
According to Levy: "Renault Vehicules IndustrieIs improved its market penetration in the world's eight most important truck sales regions bar one, the United Kingdom.
"In the United Kingdom with a penetration of 6.8% we have not met our objectives. We have got to do much better and we shall dedicate all our energy to this effort with significant enhancements about to be implemented in our range of products," says Levy.
It is likely that Renault will replace all of its middleweight truck range in the UK, with a string of new models through the year. First on the list should be a new Midliner (see Vehicle News page 12).
The Commando range could be superceded during 1989 and the Dodge badge will gradually disappear completely says sources within Renault. Levy blames the collapse of the minibus market for the ills which have beset his British operation during 1988. After a boom in 1987, 1988 was a non-event says Levy.
The company remains committed to the British market and it argues that its 6.8% share can and will be improved. Levy again committed Renault to a 14% share of the single European truck market by 1993 last week, saying that 1987's 12% share of the European cake was improved by 0.25% during 1988. However, an extra 1.75% is still an ambitious target, he concedes.
Mack did well in the United States increasing its Class 8 (over 15 tonnes GVW) share by 11%, and Renault remains the leading European exporter to North America. According to Levy, Renault sells as many commercial vehicles in North America as all of the Japanese manufacturers added together.
'Ile group's full financial report will not be published until May, but Levy said last week that RVI will contribute to the group's turnaround and its battle to reduce Renault's net financial debt.