It was on February 13, 1980 that Renault Portuguesa, Sociedade Industrial e Comercial, Lda was created, representing the French brand directly in our country — it was the beginning of a success story. After 40 years, 35 of which as a leader and 22 consecutively, the Renault Group reaches the milestone of 1.5 million cars sold in our country.
And what was the number 1 500 000 car sold by Renault Portuguesa? The symbolic distinction fell to a Renault Zoe, one of the brand's electric cars, which was sold to the district of Beja.
1.5 million cars sold. What model contributed the most to this value?
According to Renault, this title belongs to the historic Renault 5 which saw 174,255 units being marketed in Portugal between 1980 and 1991 — curiously, it does not separate the Renault 5 from the Super 5, two very different generations. If we consider the various generations of a model, this title would undoubtedly fit the Renault Clio, as we would have accumulated sales of five generations, starting in 1990.
This is the Top 10 of the best-selling Renault models in Portugal since 1980:
- Renault 5 (1980-1991) — 174 255 units
- Renault Clio I (1990-1998) — 172 258 units
- Renault Clio II (1998-2008) — 163 016 units
- Renault Clio IV (2012-2019) — 78 018 units
- Renault 19 (1988-1996) — 77 165 units
- Renault Mégane II (2002-2009) — 69,390 units
- Renault Clio III (2005-2012) — 65 107 units
- Renault Express (1987-1997) — 56 293 units
- Renault 4 (1980-1993) — 54 231 units
- Mégane III (2008-2016) —53 739 units
Renault recognizes, however, that sales of models such as the Renault 5 and Renault 4 are higher than those registered, but as the brand says “only sales have been quantified since the brand started to have a subsidiary in Portugal ”. Which also leads to a curiosity: the Renault Fuego is the only one with only one registered unit sold, in 1983.
Renault 5 Alpine
more trivia
In the company's 40-year history, 25 of them have seen a Renault be the best-selling model in Portugal.
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Since 2013 this title has belonged to the Renault Clio and throughout its history it has been held 11 times. Renault Mégane also won the title of best seller in Portugal six times (2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012). And in the 1980s, the Renault 5 was also the best seller in Portugal several times.
Renault Clio IV
1988 was the best year of Renault sales in Portugal: 58 904 units sold (Passengers + Light Commercials). The mark of 50,000 units sold in a year was even surpassed in 1987, 1989 and 1992.
1980, the first year of activity for Renault Portuguesa was the worst of all: 12,154 units, but in a much smaller market than today — that year 87,623 cars were sold in Portugal. The “worst” podium is filled by the years 2012 and 2013 (coinciding with the years of the international crisis).
1987 was the year in which Renault registered the largest market share (Passengers + Light Commercials): 30.7%. Followed by 1984, with 30.1%; if we only count on the sale of passenger vehicles, the share was 36.23%, the best ever. In Light Commercial, the year in which it registered its best share is the most recent: it was in 2016, with 22.14%.
Renault Clio III
The milestone of 100,000 cars sold by Renault Portuguesa was reached after four years and seven months after direct presence in Portugal. The 250 thousand, took eight years and four months; 500,000 units sold were reached after 13 years and two months; the million-unit milestone was reached after 24 years and 10 months.
sales by brand
Renault Portuguesa does not only sell Renault models. She is also responsible for sales of Dacia models and, more recently, the Alpine. Dacia has also been a success story for Renault Portuguesa. The Sandero, its best-selling model, having already sold 17,299 units, is close to entering the Top 20 best-selling models by Renault Portuguesa (it is currently in 24th place).
Alpine A110. It's beautiful, is not it?
The 1.5 million cars sold in Portugal are distributed as follows by the brands of the Renault Group:
- Renault — 1 456 910 units (including 349 Renault Twizy, considered a quadricycle)
- Dacia — 43 515 units
- Alpine — 47 units
Razão Automóvel's team will continue online, 24 hours a day, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Follow the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health, avoid unnecessary travel. Together we will be able to overcome this difficult phase.