Renault says it is planning a major expansion outside Europe as part of a new five-year strategy aimed at boosting sales and holding its own in an increasingly competitive global auto landscape.
The French automaker intends to sell half of all Renault-branded vehicles outside Europe by 2030, up from about 38% in 2025, while also increasing total annual sales by more than 20%. Renault sold about 1.63 million vehicles last year and is targeting more than 2 million Renault-brand sales annually by the end of the decade.
It’s calling the plan “futuREady,” and it includes launching 36 new models over the next five years, with 14 specifically designed for markets outside Europe. In the previous five-year cycle, Renault introduced only eight models for international markets.
Renault brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive said emerging markets will play a key role in the company’s expansion strategy. The automaker plans to launch four new models in India, including the small Bridger SUV, which is expected to enter production next year before expanding into other regions.
The shift reflects Renault’s need to find growth beyond Europe as competition intensifies. Chinese automakers such as BYD and Chery have been expanding aggressively with lower-priced vehicles, while traditional rivals like Stellantis are also squeezing its market share.
Renault Group CEO François Provost said the company must focus on long-term competitiveness as the industry undergoes rapid changes.
“We have proved we can win, now we must prove we can last,” Provost told analysts during a presentation at Renault’s research and development center near Paris.
The automaker will also be making a major push to lower vehicle costs, particularly of its electric cars. Renault says it plans to cut EV production costs by 40% by 2030 by simplifying designs and reducing the number of components used in powertrains.
Renault will launch 16 fully electric models by the end of the decade, representing about 44% of its planned product lineup, while continuing to rely on hybrid vehicles as demand for full EVs has decelerated.
Renault does not currently maintain a presence in two of the world’s major markets, either the United States or China, so it’ll be interesting so see where it makes such significant gains in a short window.
But for a couple of sketchy, short-lived gigs right out of college, Natalie Neff has had the good fortune to spend the entirety of her professional life around cars. A 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 1972 VW Beetle, 1999 Ducati Monster and a well-loved purple-and-white five-speed Schwinn currently call her garage home.
