PARIS (Reuters) – Renault Group reported on Thursday an acceleration in its turnover in the third quarter thanks to new products such as the Dacia Bigster as well as its financial services activity, which came to compensate for the persistent weakness of the commercial vehicle market due to the gloomy economic context in Europe.

The diamond group achieved a turnover of 11.43 billion euros over the past three months, up 6.8% and higher than expectations, because 17 analysts expected an average of 11.37 billion (+6.2%) on the basis of a consensus provided by the company.

In the first quarter, Renault’s turnover fell by 0.3%, before rebounding by 2.5% the following quarter.

“In a very difficult environment, we continue to benefit from our attractive and competitive range of electric, thermal (ICE) and hybrid vehicles,” declared the financial director of the French car manufacturer Duncan Minto, quoted in a press release.

During a press conference call, he clarified that new launches now represented 30% of billings, compared to 28% at the start of the year and 25% at the end of 2024.

The group, which confirmed its lowered 2025 forecasts this summer, saw its volume sales increase by 9.8% over the quarter to 529,486 vehicles. The low-cost brand Dacia, for its part, posted a jump of 16.2%.

Under the leadership of its general manager Luca de Meo, who left to manage Kering, Renault has initiated one of the most important range renewals in its history, which new general manager François Provost intends to maintain its momentum.

Faced with increased Chinese competition, with renewed models faster and cheaper, Renault will have launched seven new vehicles this year, after ten new products in 2024.

The group, which had escaped since the end of 2024 the “profit warnings” which have punctuated the sector due to the slowdown in Europe and international commercial turbulence, finally revised its annual forecasts downwards this summer.

It now says it expects an operating margin of around 6.5% in 2025, compared to at least 7% previously targeted, and a free cash flow of between 1.0 billion and 1.5 billion euros, compared to at least 2 billion euros previously anticipated.

Renault, which continues to work to reduce its variable costs and its general, administrative and R&D expenses, said it was confident for the end of the year in view of its order intake, up “in the single digits”.

Four launches are still to come in the fourth quarter, notably the new Clio 6, and outside Europe the compact SUV Boreal and the small electric Kwid in Latin America.

(Gilles Guillaume and Dominique Patton, edited by Augustin Turpin and Blandine Hénault)

Copyright © 2025 Thomson Reuters