Renault safe amidst French brand turbulence

RENAULT Australia has confirmed its Australian operation is secure, shrugging off the local collapse of competing French marques, as it embarks on a multi-model revitalisation that leans heavily on its commercial models but will also include a particularly spicy specification of the facelifted Megane E-Tech.

While the other French brands, namely dearly departed Citroen and embattled Peugeot, have struggled to find a foothold in Australia’s shifting automotive landscape, Renault is anchoring its future here with a new light commercial line-up, spearheaded by the arrival of the fourth-generation Master large van.

The Master has been Renault Australia's best-selling model for the past two-and-a-half years, stabilising the brand's local volume and supporting a broader pipeline that promises six new model arrivals over a tight two-year window.

Speaking at the national launch of the new Master, Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey confirmed the brand’s local arm is healthy, highlighting promising sales results in June and an aggressive model rollout that is underway.

“From a Renault perspective...there's significant investment going into the Australian product,” he said.

“Last year Renault Australia promised six new models in the next 18 months and the new-generation Renault Master shows we are delivering…plus there is more to come.

"We've just come off a strong June like a number of other model brands as well, and for us it was the biggest result for Renault in Australia since June 2023."

Adding weight to the brand's local security, Renault Asia-Pacific Manager Arnaud Mourgue reiterated the importance of Australia as a long-term market for the company, also suggesting a lack of local manufacturing has created a demand for premium European quality.

“It's an important market – it's probably the third largest, if I'm not mistaken, right-hand-drive market for Renault. So, we are happy to push our assets in Australia," Mr Mourgue said.

“The good point of Australia is that you don't have any more national players obviously, so I would say the market is fully open.”

However, the realities of strict Australian Design Rules mean homologation challenges prevent certain models from making their way Down Under, as enticing as they may be for the brand’s local arm.

Mr Sealey confirmed that the popular retro-styled Renault 5 E-Tech hatch, which failed to satisfy a design rule (ADR 34) pertaining to the need for a central top-tether anchor in the rear seat, will not be imported, shutting down all speculation that it may in fact still be on the table for the importer.

"At the moment, it's not available to us anyway,” he said.

“So, it's a moot discussion from my perspective."

Mr Sealey had previously told media that the reengineering cost to achieve compliance would be “about €3 million ($A4.9 million)”, so the verdict is hardly shocking.

However, Renault Australia did manage to secure the more extreme, carbon-fibre-bodied Renault 5 Turbo 3E, with Mr Sealey confirming deliveries will commence early next year in very limited numbers, but the limited-run has been fully pre-sold.

The rather wild, 373kW rear-wheel-drive hot hatch, which pays homage to the iconic 1980s Renault 5 Turbo, will set buyers back north of $300,000 based on the European sticker price of €160,000 before taxes.

Mr Sealey also confirmed the local arrival of the facelifted Megane E-Tech in the first half of next year, which will include the top-spec Esprit Alpine trim grade for the first time.

The facelifted Megane E-Tech Esprit Alpine will bring a larger 67kWh lithium-ion battery pack allowing 500km of claimed WLTP driving range, while also unlocking a drastically improved 165kW DC fast charging rate.

It will produce the same 160kW/300Nm, but scores Alpine-inspired body tweaks, a 20mm increase to the vehicle's standard ride height, a unique 3D rear lighting band, and 20-inch specific alloy wheels.

While final pricing is yet to be locked in, Mr Sealey confirmed the variant will cost more than the currently discounted Megane E-Tech at $49,990, but he confirmed it will come in under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold of $91,661.