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Dacia’s UK launch delayed
19 June 2008
Renault UK has abandoned plans to launch the Dacia Sandero budget hatchback at next month’s London Motor Show.
The company says that demand for left-hand drive Dacias is still so high that the start of right-hand drive production has been put back.
Nearly 100 Renault dealers were poised to sign-up to sell the Romanian-built model, which will be badged ‘Dacia by Renault’ in the UK. The marketing plan was to price the Sandero from just £7500 – despite its supermini-plus dimensions.
Dealers have been told that the Sandero’s market launch has been postponed by 12 months until late 2009. The company’s preview event for dealers has been cancelled – and the UK media launch has also been axed.
The delay is bad news for Renault’s hard-pressed dealers. Sales of the new Laguna have disappointed in the UK, and the brand has registered a 13.5 per cent decline in sales in the year to the end of May.
Renault bosses in the UK are frustrated by the delay – the Dacia brand is intended to rival Chevrolet, Kia and Hyundai. Frustrations have been compounded by the fact a small Dacia SUV will be launched in other countries by the end of next year.
Hugh Hunston
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