Renault announces its third quarter results and pushes its numbers higher than ever with a €10bn revenue in Q3.

• Groupe Renault revenues came to €10,546 million for the quarter. This 13.0 per cent increase is mainly due to the European market’s continuing strong performance and the success of its range
• In the third quarter of 2016, Groupe Renault sales increased by 16 per cent to 721,741 vehicles, in a market which expanded by 5 per cent
• In Europe, the group’s registrations rose by 11.3 per cent in a market up 5.3 per cent. The success of the new models and the continuing strength of Clio IV, Captur and Dacia models helped the group to pick up an additional 0.5 points market share
• Outside of Europe, the group grew by 21.5 per cent with significant expansion in the Africa, Middle East and India Region (+85 per cent). Market share grew across all regions
• Groupe Renault confirms its guidance for full-year 2016

All regions continue to win market share in the third quarter

In a global automotive market up 5 per cent, Groupe Renault’s registrations rose by 16 per cent to 721,741 units. The group’s market share increased by 0.3 points to 3.3 per cent.

The group continued to enjoy traction from the renewal of its range in a buoyant European market (+5.3 per cent). Its registrations rose by 11.3 per cent, with market share gaining 0.5 points to 9.5 per cent.

Sales under the Renault brand grew by 8.1 per cent thanks to the success of new Mégane, Kadjar, Espace and Talisman models. Clio IV remains the second bestselling vehicle in Europe and Captur was again the leading crossover in its class. 

In Europe, in the electric vehicle segment, Renault’s market share came to 20.8 per cent in the third quarter, while ZOE posted a 22.4 per cent growth.

Sales under the Dacia brand increased by 22.1 per cent, due chiefly to Sandero Stepway and Duster.

In France, the group outperformed the market with a 3.9 per cent rise in registrations to 123,000 vehicles in the quarter. The group placed five vehicles in the Top 10 best-selling passenger cars at the end of September, with Clio IV coming in at number one and Captur leading its segment. Sandero remains the best-selling car to retail customers, at the end of September and for the third quarter.

Internationally, despite turbulence in Brazil, Russia and Algeria, group sales increased by 21.5 per cent in the third quarter. The group increased its market share in each region.

In the Africa, Middle East and India Region, the group’s registrations were up by 85 per cent as market share gained +2.7 points to 6.4 per cent.

In Iran, Groupe Renault confirmed the trend of the first half of 2016, with deliveries up 135.5 per cent thanks to the success of Logan and Sandero. The group’s market share increased by 2.9 points to 9.6 per cent.

In India, the market grew 17 per cent while Renault registrations were multiplied sevenfold thanks to the success of Kwid. 82,771 Kwids have been registered since the start of the year, including 34,350 in the third quarter alone.

In North Africa, Groupe Renault registrations rose by 13.6 per cent, in a market down 15 per cent. Market share increased by 10.6 points to reach a record 42.2 per cent. In Algeria, the market continues to be weakened by the current regulations setting import quotas. Within this context, the group consolidated its lead in the country with a market share of 63.1 per cent, a gain of 29.2 points. The three best-selling vehicles were Symbol and Sandero – both of which are manufactured at the Oran plant – and Logan.

In the Americas Region, the group’s market share increased by 0.2 points to 6.9 per cent.

The Renault brand continued to benefit fully from the recovery of the Argentinean market, with its registrations up 21.7 per cent in a market up 12.7 per cent. In Brazil, in an automotive market down sharply (-17 per cent), the group held up well, increasing its market share by 0.4 points to 7.8 per cent. The end-2015 launch of Oroch and the upcoming launch of Alaskan are enabling the group to expand its offering and position itself in the pick-up segment.

In Eurasia, the group’s market share improved by 0.7 points to 12.4 per cent. In Russia, where total industry registrations fell by 15.1 per cent, Renault held up well, registering a limited 4.7 per cent decline. Market share expanded 0.9 points to 8.3 per cent, due to the successful launch of Kaptur, for which more than 7,500 orders have been placed since its launch in June 2016. In Turkey, the group was impacted by the market decline, with sales down 23.1 per cent.

In Asia Pacific, the group’s registrations rose by 25.6 per cent in a market up 11.5 per cent. In South Korea, the group’s largest market in the region, Renault Samsung Motors posted 24.5 per cent growth, driven by the success of its new SM6 sedan and its QM6 crossover. Market share expanded 1.9 points to 6.3 per cent over the period. In China, pending the upcoming launch of Koleos, 10,686 Kadjar have been registered since the model’s introduction in March, including 6,032 in the third quarter alone. The sales network, which currently encompasses 125 dealerships, is expected to grow to 150 outlets by the end of the year.

THIRD-QUARTER REVENUES BY OPERATING SECTOR

In the third quarter of 2016, the group’s revenues came to €10,546 million, a 13.0 per cent increase compared to the previous year (+16.7 per cent increase at constant exchange rates).

Automotive revenues came to €9,989 million, up 13.5 per cent thanks to an increase in volume (+10.7 points) and pricing (+4.6 points). This last effect still benefits from price increases in emerging countries to offset currency declines, but as well from recent launches. Growth in Sales to Partners (+1.8 points) reflects the positive momentum of our CKD^[1] activities in Iran and China, as well as the increased production of vehicles to our partners in Europe. The euro’s gain against a number of currencies, including the Argentinean peso and the British pound, resulted in an unfavourable impact of 3.8 points. Product mix is negative this quarter (-2.5 points), mainly due to the impact of Kwid in the group’s sales.

Sales Financing (RCI Banque) reported revenues of €557 million, up 4.3 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2015. The number of new financing contracts rose by 10.0 per cent. Average performing assets increased by 17.5 per cent to €33.9 billion.

OUTLOOK FOR 2016

In 2016, the global market is expected to record growth around 1.7 per centcompared to 2015. The European market, as well as the French one, are now expected to increase by at least 5 per cent.

Outside Europe, the Brazilian and Russian markets are expected to decline: -15 per cent to -20 per cent for Brazil and -12 per cent for Russia. On the contrary, China (+4 per cent to +5 per cent) and India (+7 per cent to +9 per cent) should pursue their positive momentum.

Within this context, Groupe Renault (at constant scope of consolidation) confirms its full-year 2016 guidance:

• Increase group revenues (at constant exchange rates)
• Improve group operating margin
• Generate a positive Automotive operational free cash flow

Groupe Renault consolidated revenues

(in € million)	2016	2015	Change 2016/2015
1st Quarter
Automotive	9,942	8,829	+12.6%
Sales Financing	547	559	-2.1%
Total	10,489	9,388	+11.7%
2nd  Quarter
Automotive	14,136	12,236	+15.5%
Sales Financing	560	573	-2.3%
Total	14,696	12,809	+14.7%
3rd  Quarter
Automotive	9,989	8,802	+13.5%
Sales Financing	557	534	+4.3%
Total	10,546	9,336	+13.0%
9 months
Automotive	34,067	29,867	+14.1%
Sales Financing	1,664	1,666	-0.1%
Total	35,731	31,533	+13.3%

[1] CKD : Complete Knock Down

Renault-Nissan Alliance cost savings increase to 3.80 Billion Euro's, an increase on the previous year.

• Purchasing, engineering and manufacturing are biggest contributors to synergies
• Common Module Family (CMF) drives synergies in all major areas
• Convergence of key functions in 2014 accelerates synergy momentum
• Sales and marketing and other functions increase contributions

The Renault-Nissan Alliance posted record synergies of €3.80 billion in 2014, up from €2.87 billion the previous year. Purchasing, engineering and manufacturing were the biggest contributors. The launch of the Alliance’s first Common Module Family (CMF) vehicles, as well as the recent convergence of four key units, helped drive synergies all three areas.  

Synergies are generated from cost reductions, cost avoidance and revenue increases. Only new synergies (not cumulative) are taken into account each year. Accounting for synergies helps Renault and Nissan determine if they are meeting their performance objectives. More significantly, the net savings and revenue enhancements enable both automakers to offer higher-value vehicles to customers around the world.

“Our Common Module Family system continues to drive synergies in all major areas,from purchasing to vehicle engineering and powertrains,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. “At the same time, the recent convergence of four key functions at Renault and Nissan -- Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering & Supply Chain Management, Purchasing and Human Resources -- is accelerating the momentum.”

Renault and Nissan converged the four functions on April 1, 2014. While Renault and Nissan remain separate companies, each function is led by a common Alliance executive vice president. Thanks to the convergence, the Alliance expects to overachieve on its goal of generating €4.3 billion in annualized synergies by 2016. That’s up from €1.5 billion in 2009.

Common Module Family (CMF)

Common Module Family is the Alliance’s unique system of modular vehicle architectures and an increasing source of synergies (to see our CMF infographic go toblog.alliance-renault-nissan.com/node/2634/)

CMF enables Renault and Nissan to build a wider range of vehicles from a smaller pool of parts, while at the same time increasing customer choice and quality. Small vehicles are based on CMF-A, while mid-sized vehicles utilize CMF-B, and the largest vehicles use CMF-C/D.

In February 2014, Nissan launched an all-new version of the popular Qashqai crossover in Europe. The Qashqai is built on CMF-C/D and is the third CMF model for Nissan. In 2013, Nissan launched the Rogue SUV in the United States and X-Trail crossover SUV in China. Earlier this year, Renault launched its first CMF vehicles: the New Espace and the Kadjar. Both vehicles are built on CMF-C/D as well.

In 2015, Renault will launch the Kwid in India. The Kwid is the first Alliance car built on the CMF-A architectureand will be produced at the Renault-Nissan plant in Chennai. Datsun will launch a vehicle on the same platform in 2016.

By 2020, the Alliance expects 70 percent of its vehicles to be built on CMF architectures.

Cross production

The cross production of vehicles is also a major driver of manufacturing synergies. Cross production is expected to accelerate across the Alliance following the rollout of the Alliance Production Way (APW) at all plants around the world by the end of 2015. The APW manufacturing system is the result of best practice sharing throughout the organization and allows plants to make better use of their capacity by enabling them to produce both Renault and Nissan vehicles.

In 2014, Nissan began production of the Rogue crossover in Renault’s plant in Busan, South Korean, to meet stronger-than-expected demand in the U.S.

The AVTOVAZ plant in Togliatti, Russia, is the Alliance’s biggest production base in the world with capacity of nearly one million vehicles per year. The plant produces vehicles under four brands – Lada, Renault, Nissan and Datsun. The Alliance owns a majority stake in the joint venture that controls AVTOVAZ, Russia’s largest automaker.

Contribution from other business areas, including sales and marketing

The Alliance is increasingly benefitting from synergies in other areas, such as sales and marketing.

For example, thanks to the Alliance, Renault and Nissan are able to offer customers an extensive range of vehicles around the world. In 2014, the Alliance signed global contracts with several fleet customers, including multinational food-products corporation Danone.