Renault reveals 2025 models

Plans to reclaim its standing within the top five vehicle brands.

- Charl Bosch

Having kept a comparatively low profile throughout much of 2024, Renault South Africa this month officially detailed its product plans for 2025.

Attributing its quiet 2024 to exchange rate challenges as a result of its models being paid for in euros regardless of the country of origin, Renault SA vice-president of sales and marketing Zian van Heerden said it wants to remain a key player in the sub-R500 000 segments where a reported 75% of local consumers shop for a vehicle.

"As Renault, we are an importer we don't export, we purely import, and for us the biggest issue until before the [local government] elections was the exchange rate," Van Heerden said.

"Everything we buy is in euros and before the elections, [the exchange rate] was standing at just under R20. Since then, it has come down to about R19, which is favourable for us.

"At R18.50 to the euro, we can import all the nice stuff, but above that it becomes difficult. And that was one of the main reasons why last year, we had to make the tough call, 'are we bringing Oroch, yes or no'?"

Van Heerden said the brand's current line-up of four products Kwid, Triber, Kiger and Captur will be ramped-up significantly from March next year as it aims to reclaim its standing within the top five vehicle brands, having been demoted to sixth by Chery.

"If you look at the top five best-selling brands, the average number of different offerings to hit the sweet spot [when it comes to volume] is nine. Below that, you will struggle.