Renault Readies New Plan to Sell Half Its Cars Outside Europe

Renault has set out an ambitious five-year roadmap aimed at keeping itself competitive in an increasingly pressurised global market, targeting annual sales of more than 2 million Renault-brand vehicles by 2030 -- a rise of 23 per cent from the 1.63 million sold in 2025 -- with half of those sales taking place outside Europe. The plan, unveiled on Tuesday at the company's research and development centre near Paris and formally branded "futuREady," marks the first major strategy update since François Provost took over as chief executive last year following the departure of his predecessor, Luca de Meo, news agency Reuters has reported.

Also read: Renault Bridger Subcompact SUV Concept Breaks Cover, India Launch In 2027

Competition From China Forces Rethink

The rapid growth of Chinese carmakers such as BYD in Europe is fuelling investor concern about the price competition weighing on the industry's profitability. Renault, the smallest of the traditional legacy carmakers, also faces pressure from established rivals including Stellantis in its core European market -- a combination that has squeezed profit margins in recent years.

In response, the group said it would rely primarily on in-house technology to keep its European product range competitive, while leaning on strategic partnerships -- notably with China's Geely -- to drive a significant expansion of international sales, with South America and South Korea identified as priority growth markets.

36 New Models, 14 Outside Europe

Renault Group will launch 36 new models between now and 2030, accelerating both electrification and its international line-up. Fourteen of those launches will be outside Europe, compared with just eight in the previous five-year period -- a sharp acceleration of the carmaker's overseas product offensive.

"We will show that we are here for the long term and we will become the benchmark for the European automotive industry on the global stage," chief executive François Provost said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

The company said it aims to be present in 55 per cent of the global car market, excluding the United States, and is targeting a group operating margin of between 5 and 7 per cent of revenue over the medium term, alongside automotive free cash flow of at least €1.5 billion per year on average.

Electric and Hybrid Ambitions

Renault, which has no presence in the United States or China, said it remains committed to electrification despite the turbulence that has hit some rivals. The group plans 16 fully electric models by 2030, representing 44 per cent of its total planned model range. It will also use its Horse Powertrain joint venture with Geely to develop a more compact engine for hybrid vehicles, a powertrain strategy that has proved increasingly important as European demand for pure electric cars has come in below earlier expectations. A new platform for larger vehicles is under consideration for range-extender hybrids, with a 1.5-litre engine acting as a generator to charge onboard batteries, giving cars a highway range of around 500 miles.

A new electric vehicle platform due for introduction in 2028 will accommodate a range-extender variant with a backup petrol engine, capable of extending range to up to 1,400 kilometres -- approximately 870 miles.

Bridger SUV for India, Dacia Striker for Europe

Two new models were also revealed on Tuesday. The Renault Bridger, a small SUV developed for the Indian market, was unveiled alongside the Dacia Striker — a crossover estate designed to compete directly with the Volkswagen Group's Škoda Octavia. South America and India have been identified as the primary focuses of the international product offensive, with Renault using shared architectures with Geely to underpin the South Korean market entry through a large coupe-SUV called the Filante.

Renault is in considerably better health than it was half a decade ago, when substantial losses forced the group to exit several overseas markets and shed thousands of jobs. Provost took the helm last year after former chief executive Luca de Meo moved to luxury group Kering.