Renault still targets 17 pct sales gains in Europe in 2009

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - French automaker Renault is still targeting European sales gains of nearly 17 pct to 2 mln million vehicles in 2009, according to executive vice president for planning, product planning and programmes Patrick Pelata.

In Europe in 2009 'we expect to return to nearly the level we were at in 1999-2001' or 'nearly two million vehicles' sold per year, Pelata told journalists.

In 2006 in Europe (except Romania and Bulgaria) Renault (other-otc: RNSDY.PK - news - people ) sold 1.66 mln vehicles.

In the period from January to August this year it had sold slightly less than 1.1 mln, a drop of nearly 7 pct from the same period of 2006.

Pelata said Renault hopes the introduction of a slew of new models, beginning with the new Laguna next month, as well as continued sales growth of the budget Logan models built by its Romanian subsidiary Dacia, will help it meet the target.

He noted 'strong international growth is needed' for Renault to meet its worldwide target of 800,000 additional sales in 2009 over its 2005 performance of 2.5 mln vehicles.

'Renault is behind and must catch up,' he added.

Pelata acknowledged difficulties in ramping up production at its new Logan factory in Iran, attributing part of it to difficulties with suppliers, but vowed to boost output as soon as possible to meet the tens of thousands of orders the company has received.

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