MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. French automaker Renault plans to launch five new car models in Russia by 2025, the first of which will be the updated Duster, CEO of Renault Russia Jan Ptacek told reporters on Thursday.
"We have already brought Renault Arkana to the market in 2019 and the new Kaptur in 2020. In general, from 2020 to 2025, we want to launch 6 new models on the Russian market," he said.
The company also noted that the presentation of the first new product - Renault Duster will take place on February 11, 2021. As previously reported in the Association of European Businesses, Renault sales in 2020 in Russia fell by 11%, to 128,400 units. Nevertheless, the company ranks fourth in terms of sales in the country, behind only the traditional leader Avtovaz, as well as South Korean Kia and Hyundai.
Price increse
Prices for Renault cars in Russia in 2020 increased by 10% on average, their gradual growth will continue this year, Ptacek added.
"I can say a number, but I want to warn you that it is not so easy to measure. For example, when we launch a new Kaptur, it has different equipment, so we see that there is a price increase. I will tell you that the average price increase was about 10%, but it is necessary to take into account additional equipment, etc," he noted.
Ptacek also clarified that the main factor behind the rise in prices was the strong devaluation of the ruble, by almost 30%. "Prices have gone up, but not to compensate for that 30%. Customs duties for suppliers have also increased, which also had a certain impact. I think prices will continue to rise. But all automakers are trying to do this gradually, because a sharp increase in prices will be unpleasant for customers, dealers and, as a consequence, the manufacturers themselves," he explained.
According to published data from Russian Statistics Service, prices for new Russian-made cars in 2020 increased by 9.4%. As previously reported in the Association of European Businesses, Renault sales in 2020 in Russia fell by 11%, to 128,400 units. Nevertheless, the company ranks fourth in terms of sales in the country, behind only the traditional leader Avtovaz, as well as South Korean Kia and Hyundai.
Renault has owned a production site in Moscow since 2005. This is a full-cycle plant with welding, painting and assembly shops. It produces models of the auto concern like Renault Kaptur, Duster, Arkana, as well as Sandero and Sandero Stepway. In 2013-2019, the volume of investments in the development of the Moscow plant amounted to over 18 bln rubles.