Renault South Africa (SA) will launch six new models between now and the end of the year as its  comeback continues to gain traction.

Local Renault sales for the first six months of the year have jumped 91% compared with the same period last year, which is 72% higher than the growth recorded in the South African passenger car market for the year to date.

The company will also have eight new dealers by the end of 2010, ending the year with 50 dealers across the country.

Renault SA hopes to build on last year’s sterling performance, delivered as the result of a major restructuring exercise to stop the bleeding at the company, as evident in the 2008 sales results.

In 2009, total vehicle sales in South Africa slumped 26% compared with 2008 figures, but Renault SA grew sales by 70% and doubled its market share to 3,1%. It appears as if 2010 may deliver more of the same for the French car brand.

“The company has simply improved across the board. Every aspect of our business has been addressed in the company’s quest for overall customer satisfaction and growth,” explains Renault SA MD Xavier Gobille.

“It will take time for the general public to fully realise the vast improvements we have achieved over the past two years. But there are positive signs in this regard, too,” Gobille says. 

He adds that the South African car market is on the road to recovery, but that it is by no means a strong market yet.

“There is still a lot of room for growth. Credit access remains a problem, and although it has improved, banks are still approaching credit applications cautiously. At the same time, the demand for new cars has not returned to its full potential.

It appears the positive trends experienced by Renault SA are also being reflected on a global level.

Renault is now the number-two brand in Europe, and has grown its market share by 22,3% since the beginning of the year.