PARIS (Reuters) - French car group Renault (RENA.PA: Quote , Profile , Research ) on Thursday said worldwide vehicle sales of its three brands were down 5.6 percent in March to 236,848 units compared to a year ago.

Sales of the main Renault brand were down 7.2 percent, Dacia was up 13 percent and Renault Samsung Motors declined 4.5 percent.

Renault said that in Europe, sales were down 9.6 percent in March for a 8.3 percent market share.

"Sales continued to trend downwards in first quarter 2007, in line with forecasts. New Twingo, presented in March and launched on the market in June, is the first vehicle in Renault's strategy to win back customers," it said about the performance in Europe.

Source: [url=http://www.automotiveworld.com/WVMA/content.asp?contentid=59837]Automotive World[/url]