Renault Middle East has announced its first-quarter 2019 results, which were strengthened by higher-quality revenue and benefits from its digital strategy and award-winning vehicles.
The first quarter results showcased Renault Middle East achieving 3.54% market share in the Middle East, a growth of +0.53 points in comparison to the same period in 2018. This in accordance saw Renault, the No 1 European brand in the Middle East, achieve a sales volume increase of 23% when compared to Q1 2018, in an overall car market slightly growing by 4%.
The main contributor to this growth in GCC is the all-new Duster, which saw a 100% increase in sales volumes compared to the previous model over the same period last year.
Marwan Haidamous, Managing Director, Renault Middle East, said: “The Q1 2019 marked a good start to the year, as we executed a differentiated strategy of focusing on innovation to generate a solid performance across our business. Our digital initiatives are enhancing revenue quality and creating network competencies that will help us take advantage of growth opportunities and enhance our future performance.”
With a strong focus on the digital customer experience, Renault Middle East is taking steps to further its customers’ experience easier and more convenient – both in terms of retail and aftersales customer service.
Renault Middle East has set new standards in terms of lead response times – it responded to all online enquiries within one hour from February onwards. As a result, sales generated from online leads increased by 50% compared to the same period last year. In addition, a new home test-drive program, ‘Renault Anywhere’, was launched in Saudi Arabia, then Dubai, offering a digitized and simplified 3-step customer journey – customers can now log on to the website www.Renaultanywhere.com and choose a model, pin their location and select a date. Customers can order a Renault test drive to their home or office location, or anywhere else they wish.
With growing new vehicle sales in the region, Renault Middle East is also focusing on delivering the most convenient and cost-effective aftersales solutions to its customers driven by a vast network of distributors and market proximity. This enables it to offer a range of competitive maintenance packages available in all showrooms and fixed menu pricing to ensure greater convenience in all service centers and on its My Renault App.
Renault Middle East hosted its annual Aftersales Seminar in Morocco in February this year, gathering participants from its network of distributors from across the region to outline a new strategic aftersales roadmap, to address customer needs in times of fast changes within the industry and the markets.
Renault Middle East’s ambition to remain the region’s number one provider of mass market electric vehicles is still very much on track, leading to Renault Zoe winning the highly-coveted 2019 Middle East Car of the Year Award in the electric vehicles category.
In Jordan, Renault Zoe, has been in service with the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan for years, and gained the highest recognition in the market amongst competitors. Following the King’s direction in regards to the use of clean energy, in the end of 2018 the Greater Amman Municipality announced a tender to replace their current fleet of cars with electric vehicles. Renault won the tender, and the fleet of 100 Renault Zoe will be delivered to the Greater Amman Municipality in the coming days, marking a new milestone in the Zoe success story in Jordan.
As part of the commercialization process of electric vehicles into new markets, it is imperative to ensure the infrastructure and quality of electricity is of the required standard. Between April 8-11, 2019, Renault Middle East has made a full evaluation of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout Palestine. As a result, we are now very proud to count our partner, Signature Motors, in the growing electric vehicle family in the region.
On March 25, 2019, as the world’s leading car brands took centre stage at the sixth edition of the Middle East Car of the Year awards held at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, Renault Middle East made swift wins across multiple award categories. The highlight of the night was the all-new Renault Duster that won the prestigious MECOTY Public Award, claiming over 20% of the 80,000+ votes received from around the world, further cementing its market position of a brand that resonates with regional consumer expectations.
The new Renault Megane R.S. proved it is leading and redefining the C-segment sport market by securing top honors, recognized by the Jury Award in the Performance Hatchback category. Driving automotive innovation into the future, the Zoe Z.E. 40 capped off a stunning night for Renault by charging to first place to secure the Jury Award in the Electric Vehicles class.