UK SALES SEPT - Dacia keeps on growing with a huge 17.7% growth spurt for the plate change month.

• Dacia sales in September increase 17.7 per cent over September 2015
• Dacia sales up 2.6 per cent in first nine months of 2016 to 20,921 cars
• More than 82,000 Dacias sold in the UK since launching in 2013
• Dacia consistently voted amongst top car brands for both customer satisfaction and affordability
• Groupe Renault UK records 108,707 vehicle sales year to date – up 12 per cent on last year

Dacia’s popularity continues to grow amongst UK car buyers with year-to-date sales up on last year’s record results.  

According to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Dacia recorded sales of 20,921 vehicles in the first three quarters of 2016 – up 2.6 per cent in comparison with the same period in 2015, with a market share standing at 1.1 per cent.

For the month of September, Dacia recorded sales of 5,245 vehicles – up 17.7 per cent compared to September 2015 – considerably outpacing the UK car market and growing at one of the fastest rates in the industry.

The Dacia Duster SUV has in particular struck a chord with Britons so far this year with 5,960 sales of the tough go-anywhere SUV in the first nine months of the year – up 20.4 per cent on last year.

Commenting on the performance, Paul Flanagan, Groupe Renault UK Managing Director, said: “Dacia’s no-nonsense approach to motoring has evidently appealed to the British public, and it is clear why – the brand provides a unique proposition in the marketplace with something for everyone – the most affordable hatchback, estate and SUV available to buy in the UK. With a fully updated range just unveiled at the recent Paris Motor Show and coming to the UK later in the winter, I fully expect to see the brand continue to go from strength to strength in the UK.”

Groupe Renault, which comprises Renault cars, vans and Dacia, has experienced unprecedented growth over the last three years, consistently outpacing the UK market. This growth has continued into 2016 with 108,707 Group vehicles being sold year-to-date for a market share of 4.4 per cent – up 11.8 per cent and almost double that of the total market growth rate of 2.5 per cent. Of that total, Renault cars represented 68,109 vehicles (up 15 per cent), Renault vans 19,625 vehicles (up 11.3 per cent) and Dacia 20,921 vehicles (up 2.6 per cent).

Since the brand’s launch in the UK in 2013, Dacia has won numerous awards including What Car?’s ‘Best Small Car under £12,000’ for four consecutive years for the Sandero, has been in the top five, out of 35 manufacturers, of the Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey for three consecutive years and also ranked fourth out of 34 brands for customer satisfaction in the recent Which? Car Guide 2016.

Since relaunching to continental Europe in 2004, more than 4 million Dacias have been sold globally. In the UK, over 82,000 Dacia models have been sold since its launch in the country in January 2013.

Dacia's Parent, Renault, took the #1 spot in the After sales service Survey, Dacia takes #2, well deserved too.

• Dacia voted number two in 2016 Auto Express Driver Power Dealer Aftersales Satisfaction survey
• Eleven place rise from 13^th in 2015 for Dacia in UK’s leading dealer satisfaction survey
• Dacia ranked ahead of many more established and premium brands
• Impressive survey results from Groupe Renault UK – Renault rated number one

Dacia has been voted number two in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power Dealer Aftersales Satisfaction survey, proving that you can have incredible value-for-money and an outstanding ownership experience – ahead even of many luxury and premium brands.

The ‘shockingly affordable’ brand recorded a score of 93.7 per cent overall satisfaction from customers and rises up eleven places from its 13^th ranking in 2015.

The brand, known for its value-for-money range, made its debut in the leading dealer survey in 2014 and since then has improved each year. The results in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power Dealer After Sales Satisfaction survey complement Dacia’s ranking in the publication’s earlier vehicle ownership survey, where it finished in fourth overall, out of 31 marques, with the Logan MCV estate topping the Family Car category.  

Brian Walters, Director, Research and Insights at Driver Powersaid: "Dacia, like its sister brand Renault, improved in all six of the dealer-related attributes, most dramatically in keeping its customers informed on progress and cost of work and the technical knowledge of its workshop employees. Dacia continues to offer the highest rated franchised dealer aftersales experience when it comes to value for money."

Mark Crockett, Director of Total Customer Experience, Groupe Renault UK, commented: “Dacia’s vast improvement over last year shows how the brand has really struck a chord with customers by sticking to its core values of no-nonsense motoring, affordability and value for money. It’s gratifying to see that owners are not only happy with their vehicle but also with the service at Dacia dealerships, too.

“Dacia’s unrivalled value for money in the UK complements its top quality customer service throughout the car’s lifespan which will continue as the brand grows.”

The result is partly attributed to the redefinition of the Groupe Renault UK Services and Quality division in early 2016 to two new departments: Total Customer Experience (TCE) and After Sales. TCE supports a further emphasis on customer experience and performance and demonstrates the brand’s collective commitment to positively driving customer experience throughout the business and its dealer network. The TCE team is now also complemented by a new Customer Journey team in order to deliver the best possible Renault experience to customers, whilst After Sales now has a renewed focus on the commercial operations of parts, accessories, options and services functions.

The Dacia brand is no stranger to winning awards with Auto Express Driver Power placing Dacia in its top five best manufacturers for three consecutive years – out of 32 brands featured in the 2016 survey, with customers in particular praising the brand’s reliability. Most recently, Dacia was ranked fourth out of 34 brands for customer satisfaction with a 90 per cent satisfaction score in the 2016 Which? Car survey. Since launching in the UK in just over three years ago, Dacia has won numerous awards, including What Car?’s ‘Best Small Car under £12,000’ for four consecutive years for the Sandero.

The Dacia range comprises of the Sandero five-door hatchback, available in three trim levels with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel engine. Pricing starts from £5,995, making it the most affordable new car on sale in the UK today. The Sandero Stepway is the UK’s most affordable crossover – priced from £8,495.  It combines hatchback practicality with SUV looks and is available in two trim levels with a choice of a petrol or diesel engine. The versatile Dacia Logan MCV is available in three trim levels and comes with a choice of three engines, including a diesel option that returns up to 80.7mpg (NEDC combined cycle). The Logan MCV is priced from £6,995 OTR.  The multiple award-winning Duster is the most affordable SUV on the UK market today – priced from £9,495. Duster is available in a choice of three trim levels, with 1.6-litre petrol or 1.5-litre dCi diesel engines and in 4x2 or 4x4 set-ups.

In the ten years since relaunching in Europe, Dacia has sold more than four million vehicles in Europe. Over 78,000 Dacia models have been sold in the UK since its launch in January 2013.

Dacia voted fourth most reliable brand in 2016 Which? Car Survey, You dont need an expensive brand to be good.

• Dacia voted fourth most reliable brand in 2016 Which? Car Survey
• Owners award Dacia a top 90% satisfaction score – above many premium and luxury brands
• 34 manufacturers rated in the UK’s largest ownership satisfaction survey
• Latest ownership accolade for the no-nonsense car manufacturer
• Over 4 million Dacias have been sold since 2004

Dacia has been voted the fourth most reliable car brand out of the 34 manufacturers in the 2016 Which? Car Survey – the largest of its type in the UK – outperforming many well-established and premium brands.

Dacia received a 90% satisfaction score from customers completing the 2016 car brand reliability survey – placing the no-nonsense car company above many premium and luxury brands.

The Dacia Duster – the best value SUV on the UK market – was voted third Best Compact SUV by Which? readers for ownership satisfaction.  The Dacia Sandero, the UK’s most affordable new car, received a Which? four-star reliability rating from owners with the Dacia Logan MCV – offering the more space for owners’ money than any other car in the UK – also received a Which? four-star reliability rating.

Nic Shaw, Cars Editor, Which?, said: “Our survey, the biggest of its kind in the UK, reveals that spending more on a car is no guarantee of reliability, and sometimes quite the opposite. The ultra-affordable Dacia Sandero shows that a reliable runaround need not break the bank and Dacia finishing fourth overall in our manufacturer reliability league table is a strong achievement for a relatively new car brand.”

Louise O’Sullivan, Head of Dacia UK, commented: “We’re delighted that the Which? Car Survey 2016 is another endorsement from Dacia owners of how satisfied they are with their cars.  Dacia is continuing to go from strength to strength in the UK with the range matching value for money with quality, reliability and owner satisfaction matching far more established vehicle manufacturers.”

The annual Which? Car Survey in 2016, measuring reliability and customer satisfaction, is based on feedback from more than 59,000 UK car owners based on their experience in the last 12 months and is the largest such survey in the UK. As well as breakdowns, it considers repair costs, the time a car is off the road for repair and the most common fault types for each model.

Dacia has won numerous awards in the UK since launching just over three years ago including What Car?’s ‘Best Small Car under £12,000’ for four consecutive years for the Sandero. One of the UK’s largest automotive owner satisfaction studies, Auto Express Driver Power, has placed Dacia in its top five best manufacturers for three consecutive years – out of 32 brands featured in the 2016 survey, with customers in particular praising the brand’s reliability.

The Dacia range comprises is of the Sandero is a five-door hatchback, available in three trim levels with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel engine. Pricing starts from £5,995, making it the most affordable new car on sale in the UK today.  The versatile Dacia Logan MCV is available in three trim levels and comes with a choice of three engines, including a diesel option that returns up to 80.7mpg (NEDC combined cycle). The Logan MCV is priced from £6,995 OTR.  The multiple award-winning Duster has been a part of the Dacia range since the brand’s launch in the UK in 2013 and is the most affordable SUV on the UK market today – priced from £9,495. Duster is available in a choice of three trim levels, with 1.6-litre petrol or 1.5-litre dCi diesel engines and in 4x2 or 4x4 set-ups.

Over four million Dacias have been sold since Groupe Renault reintroduced the brand in Europe in 2004.  Dacia was launched in the UK in 2013 and over 78,000 of its ‘shockingly affordable’ vehicles have found UK homes to date. 

Dacia supports Windsor Community First Responders with the loan of a Dacia Duster 4x4.

• Dacia supports Windsor Community First Responders with the loan of a Dacia Duster 4x4
• Duster 4x4 to be used as a Dynamic Response Vehicle (DRV) to attend medical emergencies
• Robust Duster with 4x4 capability allows volunteers to reach patients in hard-to-access areas
• Specially-liveried Duster to be ‘on call’ 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Award-winning Duster starts from a ‘shockingly affordable’ £9,495

A Dacia Duster is coming to the aid of people requiring emergency medical attention following a new partnership between the UK’s most affordable brand and the Windsor Community First Responders.

Dacia has loaned the Windsor branch of Community First Responders a Duster 4x4 for the use of its volunteers in their invaluable work in assisting the Ambulance Service and providing potentially life-saving treatment to those in need of urgent medical assistance.

Trained by the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and re-qualified every six months, Windsor Community First Responders provide a rapid response to many 999 calls where an ambulance has been requested by people in their region. The locality of its volunteers means that they can often arrive at an incident before an ambulance and administer essential pre-hospital treatment.

Working on a rota basis and ‘on-call’ 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Windsor Community First Responders will specifically use the Duster as a Dynamic Response Vehicle (DRV) to assist people who have suffered medical emergencies that include unconsciousness, chest pain, stroke or breathing difficulties. 

The 4x4 capability of the Duster ensures that the crew can reach patients that are in hard-to-access and remote rural areas, as well as those that have been taken ill in the street, at home or at their work place.

Initially contacted by the Ambulance Service in the event of an emergency, the only incidents where Windsor Community First Responders will not be called to are those that are considered to be unsafe. In many cases, the organisation’s volunteers will stay on-site once the ambulance crew arrive to assist with making the patient stable and ready for transport to hospital.

The Duster’s spacious interior easily accommodates the crew of up to three volunteers and the essential equipment that is needed for callouts, which includes a defibrillator, oxygen, masks, bandages, Entonox and other medical supplies.

Provided in Ambiance specification and featuring a distinctive green and yellow livery, the award-winning Duster 4x4 provides Windsor Community First Responders with a high level of comfort and safety as well as tough, go-anywhere capability. Standard equipment includes ABS and Emergency Brake Assist ESC/ASR (Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control), 4 x 20W FM/AM/DAB tuner with steering-column mounted fingertip controls and Bluetooth, electric front windows, remote central locking, front fog lights and height-adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel.

Chris Wright, who has been volunteering with the nearby Chalfont Community First Responders for over a year and who organised the partnership, said: “Community First Responders are funded entirely by donations and many volunteers have to use their own vehicles, so to have the Duster as a centrally-based Dynamic Response Vehicle (DRV) is a great help. Dacia was very receptive when I approached them and the Duster is already proving to be an extremely useful and capable vehicle that all of our volunteers enjoy driving.”

Frank Epstein, of the Windsor Community First Responders, added: “Dusty, as we affectionately call the Dacia, has already attended medical calls for patients who have had a variety of illnesses including difficulty in breathing, epileptic fits, burns and poisonings. In recent days Dusty has been ‘on call’ in Windsor, Maidenhead, Slough and Beaconsfield and can be expected to be utilised anywhere in East Berks and South Bucks.

“Many villages in Berkshire were flooded by the river Thames a couple of years ago and the Dacia Duster is an ideal rescue vehicle in such conditions, its 4x4 capability and good ground clearance meaning it will be able to assist other emergency vehicles in poor weather conditions. The Duster is manoeuvrable around the small, cobbled Windsor streets and the petrol engine is quiet and provides good fuel economy for a SUV of its size. The boot has ample space for all our equipment and all in all, is pleasant to drive and very well suited for this type of emergency service activity.”

Louise O’Sullivan, Head of Dacia UK, said: “We’re exceptionally pleased to lend our support to the Windsor Community First Responders. As its volunteers are quickly discovering, the Duster 4x4 is the ideal vehicle for their work as its robust, dependable and go-anywhere nature makes it perfect for attending medical emergencies at locations that a normal car may struggle to negotiate, such as fields, parks, woodland and golf courses.”

Windsor Community First Responders are not the first emergency service to benefit from the rugged Duster. In 2015, Dacia teamed up with St Andrew’s First Aid and loaned the organisation a Duster 4x4 for use at high-profile events across Scotland, the SUV’s dependability making it an invaluable asset to the charity.

The multiple award-winning Duster is the most affordable SUV on the UK market – priced from £9,495. Duster is available in a choice of five trim levels, with customers able to choose from 1.6 SCe 115 and 1.2 TCe 125 petrol engines or the 1.5 dCi diesel engine. All Duster versions are available in 4x2 or 4x4 set-ups.

Since the brand’s launch in the UK in 2013, Dacia has won numerous awards including What Car?’s ‘Best Small Car under £12,000’ for four consecutive years for the Sandero. The brand was recently named fourth best manufacturer, out of the entire car industry of more than 30 brands, in the 2016 Auto Express Driver Power owner survey, marking the third consecutive year that the brand has featured in the top five. 

Dacia sold 26,228 vehicles in the UK in 2015, up 10 per cent compared to 2014. Over 78,000 Dacia models have been sold in the UK since its launch in January 2013. More than four million Dacias have been sold since Groupe Renault reintroduced the brand in Europe in 2004.

GOODWOOD - Dacia to launch the 2017 range at the Moving Motor Show and to debut the new Duster,.

• New Dacia Duster to debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Moving Motor Show, on Thursday 23 June
• New Duster features revised styling and improved standard equipment
• New top-of-the-range Prestige trim level added to Duster line-up
• New 1.2 TCe 125 petrol engine introduced
• New Duster line-up still starts from a ‘shockingly affordable’ £9,495

Dacia will debut the new 2017 model year version of its ever-popular, no-nonsense Duster SUV at the Moving Motor Show, held during the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Thursday 23 June.

On display in the new Prestige dCi110 4x2 guise, the new Duster will make its first UK appearance at the legendary Festival, joining the rest of the ‘shockingly affordable’ Dacia range. 

At the Moving Motor Show, guests will also have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of petrol and diesel versions of the Sandero – the UK’s most affordable car – together with diesel examples of the Sandero Stepway and the award-winning Logan MCV, which is the UK’s best value estate car.

The 2017 Duster receives a number of external and interior upgrades, while the popular range is strengthened with the addition of the new range-topping Prestige version.

Instantly identifying the new Duster are new, squarer headlights, the revised front end styling adding to the SUV’s purposeful and robust appearance.

The new Duster is also enhanced with the availability of the new 1.2 TCe 125 engine, providing customers with the option of a more powerful engine and complementing the existing 1.6 SCe 115 engine. The new turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine provides 125 horsepower with 205Nm of torque at 4,000rpm and offers combined NEDC fuel consumption of 46.3mpg (4x2 version) and CO₂ emissions of 138g/km.  Available on Lauréate trim and above, the inclusion of the new engine in the line-up means that customers now have the choice of a petrol or diesel variant at every trim level. Powering diesel versions of the new Duster is the well-proven 1.5 dCi engine.

Standard equipment on the Duster has been upgraded, with DAB radio as standard from Ambiance trim and new interior upholstery on all trim levels. Additional changes to the interior include the dashboard now in a dark carbon finish, whilst there is a new satin chrome centre console surround and steering wheel inserts to match.

There are also several new options available on the new Duster, such as 16-inch ‘Tyrol’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, which add further presence to the SUV. Rear parking sensors are also available for the first time as a factory-fit option, while a rear parking camera is now available as an option on Lauréate trim and above. All new part-leather ‘Aspira’ upholstery can be specified as an option, offering more refinement as well as practicality. Pennine Green, a new deep green metallic paint, has also been made available for the updated Duster.

The 2017 Duster range is topped by the new Prestige version. On top of the Lauréate trim, the Prestige adds 16-inch ‘Tyrol’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, MediaNav Evolution (7-inch touchscreen multimedia system with satellite navigation) and rear-parking camera as standard. Priced at just £900 more than the Lauréate, the Prestige represents a customer saving of £250 compared to buying the extra equipment as individual options.

Starting with the Access level of trim, the new Duster line-up also comprises of Ambiance, Ambiance Prime, Lauréate and Prestige versions.

The entry-level Access offers standard features that includeABS and Emergency Brake Assist
ESC/ASR (Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control),longitudinal roof bars, a Thatcham-approved engine immobiliser, electric front windows and remote control central locking.

In addition to the specification of the Access, the Ambiance adds extra equipment that includes 16-inch 'Matterhorn' steel wheels, body-coloured front and rear bumpers, a 4 x 20W DAB tuner with steering-column mounted fingertip controls, Bluetooth, AUX input, USB connection for MP3 players, front fog lights and height-adjustable driver's seat.

On top of the Ambiance trim, the Ambiance Prime offers 16-inch 'Everest' alloy wheels and the exclusive Chestnut body colour.

The Lauréate trim adds even more luxury, its standard equipment including manual air conditioning,
electric front and rear windows, heated and electrically-adjustable door mirrors, on-board computer, leather steering wheel,
’Graphite’ cloth upholstery and 16-inch 'Tyrol' alloy wheels.


All versions of the new Duster can be specified with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

The new Duster range starts from £9,495 on the road.

ENGINE LINE UP

	Power	Torque	0-62 (secs)	Max speed
SCe 115 4x2	115hp	156Nm @ 4,000	11.0	105mph
SCe 115 4x4	115hp	156Nm @ 4,000	12.0	104mph
TCe 125 4x2	125hp	205Nm @ 2,000	10.4	109mph
TCe 125 4x4	125hp	205Nm @ 2,000	11.0	110mph
dCi 110 4x2	110hp	260Nm @ 1,750	11.8	105mph
dCi 110 4x4	110hp	260Nm @ 1,750	12.4	104mph

OWNERSHIP AND PRICING

Version	CO2 (g/km)	MPG (Combined)	Price (OTR)
Access SCe 115 4x2	145	44.1	£9,495
Access SCe 115 4x4	155	41.5	£11,495
Ambiance SCe 115 4x2	145	44.1	£10,595
Ambiance SCe 115 4x4	155	41.5	£12,595
Ambiance dCi 110 4x2	115	64.2	£12,095
Ambiance dCi 110 4x4	123	60.1	£14,095
Ambiance Prime SCe 115 4x2	145	44.1	£11,095
Ambiance Prime SCe 115 4x4	155	41.5	£13,095
Ambiance Prime dCi 110 4x2	115	64.2	£12,595
Ambiance Prime dCi 110 4x4	123	60.1	£14,595
Laureate TCe 125 4x2	138	46.3	£12,895
Laureate TCe 125 4x4	145	44.1	£14,895
Laureate dCi 110 4x2	115	64.2	£13,595
Laureate dCi 110 4x4	123	60.1	£15,595
Prestige TCe 125 4x2	138	46.3	£13,795
Prestige TCe 125 4x4	145	44.1	£15,795
Prestige dCi 110 4x2	115	64.2	£14,495
Prestige dCi 110 4x4	123	60.1	£16,495

Dacia has won numerous awards since launching in the UK in 2013, including What Car?’s ‘Best Small Car under £12,000’ for four consecutive years for the Sandero.  One of the UK’s largest automotive owner satisfaction studies, Auto Express Driver Power, has placed Dacia in its top five best manufacturers for three consecutive years, out of 32 brands featured in the 2016 survey, with customers praising the brand’s reliability.

Dacia sold 26,228 vehicles in the UK in 2015, up 10 per cent compared to 2014. Over 70,000 Dacia models have been sold in the UK since its launch in January 2013.