Renault continues it's expansion in the UK with the return, after 3 years, a dealership in Aberdeen, Scotland.

• New John Clark dealership sees Renault once again represented in Aberdeen
• First Renault Group dealership opened by the John Clark automotive group
• Opening continues the rapid growth of the Renault Group UK dealer network
• Establishment of new dealership supports Renault Group UK’s GO5+ strategy for sustainable growth

After a three-year absence from Aberdeen, Renault is now once again represented in the city with the opening of a new dealership by the John Clark automotive group.

Located on Abbotswell Road and launched under the Specialist Cars arm of John Clark, the development of the dealership also ensures that the value-driven Dacia brand has a presence in Aberdeen for the very first time. The impressive site is also the first Renault Group franchise to be opened by John Clark in the renowned group’s 37-year history.

John Clark has invested over £150,000 in refurbishing the site, transforming the 13-car showroom with the cutting-edge Renault Store showroom concept that works to bring a new dimension to visitors’ car buying experiences through interactive and engaging features, such as a virtual car configurator and the iPad-equipped Brand Bar. New and existing Renault and Dacia owners also benefit from an advanced 17-bay workshop, which includes dedicated bays for MOT testing and wheel alignment and is manned by expert, manufacturer-trained technicians.

The opening of the dealership has created 28 jobs and sees John Clark strengthen its product portfolio for the Aberdeen customer base. Having considered several manufacturer franchises, John Clark opted for that offered by the Renault Group due in part to it being seen as the best fit for the locality and the customer loyalty that the Renault brand has historically enjoyed.

John Clark is the latest in an ever-increasing list of automotive groups who have chosen to invest in the Renault Group franchise, making it the fastest-growing automotive franchise in the UK. The rapid growth is set to continue throughout 2016 with the appointment of a further 15 dealerships, the increase of the dealer network playing a pivotal role in achieving the targets for sustainable growth that Renault Group UK has set out in its GO5+ strategy – the carmaker’s plan that aims to significantly enhance market share and brand perception by 2017.

Chris Clark, Director of John Clark, said: “The addition of Renault and Dacia to our portfolio allows us to cover areas of the market that we do not currently represent. With Dacia vehicles starting from only £5,995, this brand in particular presents us with a true opportunity to target car buyers that have yet to experience John Clark.

“Our decision to invest in the Renault Group franchise was influenced by a number of factors, including the significant growth in market share its vehicles have achieved over the last three years and the strength of its product ranges.”

Clark continued: “Establishing the dealership has been an excellent experience. We have found the manufacturer’s franchise team to be very dedicated and passionate, their expertise having enabled us to launch the business in record time and making the transition to representing a new franchise exceptionally easy.”

Darren Payne, Sales Director, Renault Group UK, said: “With John Clark already enjoying a sizeable presence across Scotland and having established an excellent reputation over the best part of 40 years, we’re delighted to welcome such a valuable addition to our dealer network.

“Renault Group has been without representation in Aberdeen for some time and with its immense experience and customer focus, John Clark is the perfect investor to firmly re-establish Renault in the city and introduce the region’s car buyers to the great value of Dacia.”  

Renault Group enjoyed another year of growth in the UK in 2015 with full-year sales significantly up and outpacing a growing market across its Renault, LCV and Dacia brands. Renault Group UK sales for 2015 were up 17.4 per cent on 2014 to 127,343 vehicles, significantly outpacing the UK car market, which rose by 7.4 per cent. Renault car sales represented 75,618 vehicles (up 14 per cent YTD), Renault van sales were 25,458 (up 40 per cent YTD, more than double that of the UK van market growth of 15.5 per cent YTD) and Dacia car sales represented 26,228 vehicles (up 10 per cent YTD).

Car sharing club is on a charge thanks to a new fleet of All-Electric Renault ZOE Supermini's.

• 20 electric Renault ZOE superminis added to Co-wheels fleet
• New Renault ZOEs drive growth of Co-wheels to over 50 UK locations
• 100% electric vehicle perfect for car sharing club model
• ZOE is the most affordable car to hire from Co-wheels

A 20-strong fleet of 100 per cent electric Renault ZOEs has enabled the only independently owned national car sharing club to expand its social enterprise-focused operation to over 50 UK locations.

Co-wheels has introduced the innovative Renault ZOE to a number of new sites in Scotland this year, the most recent being in Aberdeen, Dumfries and Dundee. The club, which provides low emission, hybrid and electric cars on a pay-as-you-go basis for organisations and communities, has further locations for EVs in the pipeline with the ZOE confirmed as its electric car of choice.

The club chose the Renault ZOE against other electric cars due to the value it represents and also its driveability. Co-wheels are finding the five-door hatchback very easy to use and ideal for members who have never driven an electric car before. All of the club’s ZOEs have been bought outright or funded via Government grants.

Co-wheels customers can hire a Renault ZOE for only £3.75 an hour or £22.50 for 24 hours. As part of the club’s drive to encourage electric car use, Co-wheels does not make an additional charge for mileage – making the ZOE its most affordable car to hire.

Pierre Fox, Director, Co-wheels, said: “Feedback to the Renault ZOE has been excellent, customers liking how simple it is to drive and finding the controls to be very straightforward. It’s the ideal size too, and is the perfect vehicle for our car sharing model with 90 per cent of customers’ journeys being local.

“Using the ZOE also fits with us operating as a social enterprise with a commitment to improving society and the environment. We aim to help our members save money, reduce car ownership and create a cleaner environment by making lower impact transport options available, and because we have received grants for some of the cars, we are able to pass this saving onto our customers.

“Everyone who has driven one of our ZOEs has been very positive about the experience, so much so that when it comes to adding more electric cars at new or existing locations, it will be our preferred choice of vehicle.”

Ben Fletcher, Renault UK’s Electric Vehicle Product Manager, said: “Co-wheels’ decision to use the Renault ZOE as its number one electric car perfectly illustrates how more and more drivers are finding the versatile hatchback ideal for their requirements and how Renault is rapidly increasing its share of the growing EV sector. We’re very pleased that the ZOE is proving so popular with Co-wheels customers and is helping them to lower their motoring costs and also do their bit to help preserve their local environment.”

The Renault ZOE is an all-electric, five-door family hatchback available in three trim levels that comes with a very high level of standard specification, despite its competitive price-tag, which starts from £13,445 after the Government Plug-in Car Grant. Standard specification includes items such as climate control and sat-nav. 

ZOE is available with a number of features that make for seamless electric vehicle ownership including remote monitoring of the battery and pre-heating the cabin via your smartphone. ZOE also benefits from the patented Chameleon™ Charger that allows it to make the most of the widest range of power supplies and also keep charging times to a minimum – charging from zero to 80 per cent full in as little as 30 minutes.  The official NEDC range is 149 miles – Renault estimates that in real-world driving conditions that this equates to around 106 miles in summer and 71 miles in winter. Retail ZOE customers also enjoy the free installation of a fast-charging 7kW wall box at home, giving a standard charge time from 0-100 per cent of just 3-4 hours.

Awarded the titles of What Car? 2015 ‘Best Electric Car for less than £20,000’ and ‘Best Electric Vehicle’ in the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 survey, the Renault ZOE is an affordable route to zero emissions in-use motoring. 

In addition to the ZOE supermini, the Renault Z.E range also includes the Twizy urban runaround, an innovative open-sided two-seater vehicle, and the Kangoo Van Z.E that is perfectly suited to many commercial applications with its choice of four bodystyles and 106-mile range (NEDC).

In a UK electric car market up 54.5 per cent September year-to-date, sales of Renault electric vehicles in the UK were up by 92.4 per cent, to 1,316 vehicles, compared to the same period last year – dramatically outpacing the overall EV market of 54.4%.Renault Group UK sales for September YTD – comprising Renault cars, vans and Dacia vehicles – were up 17.4 per cent to 97,257 vehicles on the same period in 2014, again, significantly outpacing the overall market growth of 8.2 per cent.