Renault Group’s value brand Dacia is showing early signs of struggling against China’s cheaper imports, with the group reporting a 0.4% slide in vehicle volumes for the first half of 2026.
The fall, compared to volumes for the same period in 2025, was driven by Dacia’s 8.1% slump attributed by Renault to “the increasing presence of Chinese brands in Europe,” the company said in a July 23 statement.
Dacia sold 327,077 vehicles in H1 2026, down from 355,985 in the same period last year.
Overall, Renault reported sales of 1,165,133 vehicles in the first half of 2026, compared to 1,169,644 units in the same period last 2025.
However, the Renault brand continued to perform strongly, selling 829,518 vehicles worldwide, up 2.6% compared with the first half of 2025 and growing for a fourth consecutive year.
“This performance is driven by a balanced contribution from both Europe and international markets,” Renault said in a statement.
The automaker also noted acceleration in Northern European countries, including Germany, the U.K., Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, where its Renault brand saw a 14% sales increase in H1, 2026.
The company attributes this success to its futuREady strategy, accelerating electrification, pursuing a value-driven commercial policy and deploying the brand's international roadmap.
The Renault brand has also performed well outside Europe, where sales increased 2.8% to reach nearly 296,000 vehicles.
