Renault Group sold 1,165,133 vehicles worldwide in the first half of 2026, virtually flat on a year earlier, as the company leaned on sales quality and a fast-growing electrified line-up. In Europe, electrified models made up 52.0% of Group sales, and Renault brand grew for a fourth consecutive year. Dacia dipped over the half but held its ground, while Alpine posted a record six months.

Renault Group has reported broadly stable global sales for the first half of 2026, with 1,165,133 vehicles delivered — a fall of just 0.4% against the same period in 2025. The company frames the result as a deliberate trade-off, prioritising more profitable retail sales and a rapidly electrifying range over chasing volume.

A strategy built on value, not volume

According to the manufacturer, the half was shaped by a push into the retail channel and away from lower-margin fleet and short-term rental business. Across the five biggest European markets — France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK — the Group says it sold 60.0% of its passenger cars to retail customers, up 3.8 points and 17.7 points above the market average. Renault Group also points to a solid order book in Europe worth 2.1 months of forward sales at the end of June, and residual values it puts 4 to 13 points higher than competitors.

European passenger-car and light-commercial sales came to 821,092 units, down 1.3%. Outside Europe, the company reported growth in several strategic markets, including India (+61.2%), Türkiye (+15.4%), Morocco (+13.7%) and Brazil (+5.3%).

Electrified cars now the majority in Europe

The headline figure for buyers is the pace of electrification. In Europe, electrified vehicles — the Group’s tally of battery-electric and hybrid models — accounted for 52.0% of sales in the first half, up 8.2 points, with battery-electric cars making up 18.8% of the mix.

Renault led the charge: the company says two out of three Renault cars sold in Europe (66.3%) were electrified, up 7.2 points, with fully electric models reaching 26.6% of the brand’s sales. It credits the Renault 5 E-Tech — which it calls the best-selling B-segment electric car in Europe — alongside the Renault 4 E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech. Dacia’s electrified share rose to 30.8%, driven by hybrid versions of the Duster and Bigster, while Alpine says more than 80% of its sales are now electric.

Brand by brand

Renault brand sold 829,518 vehicles worldwide, up 2.6% and a fourth straight year of growth, with the company ranking it No. 2 in Europe. Its Master van is described as Europe’s best-selling large van so far this year.

Dacia registered 327,077 sales over the half, down 8.1%, but says the second quarter was almost level with 2025 (-0.3%). The Sandero remains, by the maker’s account, the best-selling car in Europe across all channels.

Alpine delivered its strongest-ever half-year, with 8,538 cars sold worldwide, up 69.1%. The A290 hot hatch led the way at 5,890 units, the A110 added 1,607 (its production ended in June ahead of a next generation), and the new A390 fastback logged its first 1,041 registrations.

What it means

The numbers suggest a maker willing to accept a slight volume dip in exchange for healthier margins and a cleaner shift to electric — a notable stance as Chinese brands expand in Europe and price pressure builds. For buyers, it points to a widening choice of electric and hybrid Renaults and Dacias at the more affordable end of the market.

The company says more is coming before year-end, including the Dacia Sandero with a new hybrid powertrain, the next-generation Dacia Spring, the Dacia Striker, the Renault Trafic Van E-Tech electric and the Alpine A390 GTS, with the Renault Niagara pick-up due to be unveiled in September for Latin America.

Source: media.renaultgroup.com