Renault sales fall 16.5 percent in first half of 2009

• Source: Xinhua
• [15:04 July 18 2009]
• Comments

France's second largest carmaker Renault SA said on Friday its global vehicle sales dropped 16.5 percent in the first half of 2009 amid the economic downturn.

In a statement, Renault said it sold 1.106 million vehicles in the first six months of 2009, down from 1.326 million for the same period of 2008. Sales of passenger cars fell 13.7 percent in the first half of the year.

Renault's share of the global market remained stable at 3.7 percent, while its market share in Europe stood at 8.4 percent, the company said. Renault gained market share in Germany, Spain and Belgium, but lost in Italy and Britain.

Sales of Renault's Romanian brand Dacia, which makes low-cost Dacia and Sandero models, increased 20.3 percent, while sales of Renault branded vehicles fell 21.5 percent.

Renault said it still had "significant positive" free cash flow during the period. The company is due to publish full first-half results on July 30.

Renault's rival French PSA Peugeot Citroen reported last week that its sales fell 14 percent in the first half of 2009.