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Dacia gears up for UK

Budget brand reveals Duster will be slightly tweaked for UK market to arrive in early 2013

Dacia

21st September 2011

Budget brand Dacia will finally arrive in the UK in January 2013 – and British customers will get slightly more upmarket versions of the firm’s cars than their European counterparts.

But the company will still focus on value as it bids to match its success in the likes of Germany, where it now has a three per cent market share.

The Duster and the Sandero will spearhead the company’s launch in the UK. The cars will be put together in Chennai, India, alongside models for the Indian market.

Because these cars will wear the badge of parent company Renault in India, UK buyers can expect subtle changes from the Dacias currently on sale in Europe, such as different headlights and bumpers plus better quality cabins.

There will be no dedicated dealer network in Britain, with Renault franchises selling the cars initially, although that could change depending on demand. And the firm is planning to continue its unusual sales strategy in the UK.

Beatrice Foucher, Vice President of Product Planning at Renault said: “We will target private buyers. Fleets will not get discounts.” Prices are likely to undercut traditional budget brands such as Hyundai, Kia and Chevrolet.

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8 Comments

2013? What happened to 2012?

By the time these models come to the UK, will the rest of the world be getting a more up to date version than we do?

Can't help but feel we're being given a raw deal again in the UK - like the huge waiting times we have to suffer when ordering new cars.

Maybe that too is related to manufacturers treating us poorly to give priority to supplying cars to more profitable markets, now the days of charging UK motorists higher prices than anywhere else is (supposedly) over.

By gavsmit on 21 September, 2011, 10:01pm

Dacia may have missed the boat!

I've seen Dacias close up when I'm on my regular visits to Budapest. They look fine, but don't exactly make my heart skip a beat. They'll probably be good value. albeit in higher UK spec, but other budget brands won't just roll over and play dead. Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet and others will just offer better deals to customers to ensure that they don't lose their hard-won market share. Presumably Renault will follow Vauxhall's lead and move further up-market [or make more profit, as it's known] while their budget brands offer deals to cost-conscious motorists. Personally, I'd rather have a Hyundai, or a Kia which tend to look less low-rent. Oh, I forgot to mention their warranties! Let's see if Dacia have those in place as well.

By n50pap on 22 September, 2011, 10:10am

Not convinced!

With Renault's woeful customer satisfaction and reliability (so bad that Renault has replaced Skoda as the punchline for the old jokes) I would imagine the last thing they need is to introduce a low(er) rent model!!!

By BARNEYM1979 on 22 September, 2011, 8:44pm

Not convinced!

With Renault's woeful customer satisfaction and reliability (so bad that Renault has replaced Skoda as the punchline for the old jokes) I would imagine the last thing they need is to introduce a low(er) rent model!!!

By BARNEYM1979 on 22 September, 2011, 9:11pm

Good Reliability - Poor Safety

A quick Google shows that Dacias are a lot more reliable than anything made by their parent company. If they can just sort out the 3 star NCAP ratings I'd happily buy one to replace my Citroen Picasso when it starts to get long in the tooth. I'd much rather buy a European budget car than one that's been shipped half way around the world.

By inicholson on 22 September, 2011, 10:27pm

Good Reliability - Poor Safety

A quick Google shows that Dacias are a lot more reliable than anything made by their parent company. If they can just sort out the 3 star NCAP ratings I'd happily buy one to replace my Citroen Picasso when it starts to get long in the tooth. I'd much rather buy a European budget car than one that's been shipped half way around the world.

By inicholson on 22 September, 2011, 10:50pm

Duster cleans up?

I assume we get cars from India because they make RHD models for that market.
Not convinced that this will mean we get better spec/quality, if so then is that an admission that LHD cars from European (Dacia) factory are not as good as they could be? If so seems that Renault have succeeded in selling their company ethos to their new subsidiary!

By sherbo1959 on 23 September, 2011, 7:07am

Dacia Sandero

This car was the 7th best selling car in france in 2010, beating the Polo, it sold 68,000 of them, this year I think their Duster model will be in the top 10 an off roader , with a starting price 12,000€ size of a Rav4, all there cars have a 3 year guarantee a force to be reckoned with for sure

By rosscompel on 11 December, 2011, 12:24pm

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