Renault To Build A Crossover Version Of Logan In 2009

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- Renault SA (13190.FR) plans to start building a crossover version of its no-frills Logan model starting in 2009, Chief Financial Officer Thierry Moulonguet said Friday.
Five derivatives of the fast-selling Logan are either already in production or have been announced. Renault Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn had promised to launch a total of six different body shapes based on the Logan platform through 2009, but the style of the sixth and final variant has not been disclosed up until now.

Crossovers are vehicles that look a bit like compact sports utility vehicles, but are less chunky, are less fuel-thirsty, and don’t offer significant off-road handling capability.
Renault’s sister company Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) has had considerable success in Europe with its Qashqai crossover, sales of which are expected to reach 100,000 in 2007 after its launch earlier this year. Nissan expects sales to grow by at least 50% in 2008.
Renault’s Romanian subsidiary Dacia started making the sedan version of the Logan in 2004, aimed at emerging market countries where purchasing power is growing fast. Worldwide sales in 55 countries are expected to top 700,000 by the end of this year, and the Logan is now being made in six other countries: India, Russia, Morocco, Brazil, Iran and Colombia.
Additions to the Logan range since 2004 have included a station wagon and a utility van. Next year, Dacia will start making a pickup version, and the Sandero, a low-cost five-door hatchback based on the Logan platform, will be built in Brazil and sold initially in South America.
Moulonguet reaffirmed that the Logan program will be profitable in 2007 thanks to the ramp-up in production that is offering significant economies of scale and much lower distribution and marketing costs than traditional vehicles.

Source : easybourse

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