Renault plans to increase market share with new family car

Renault Polska has sold 13,500 cars in the first five months of this year, which is 1,000 more than for the same period last year. It currently has a 6% share of the Polish car market and is aiming to increase it to 7% in 2001. To this end, in October 2001, Renault is planning to open a new showroom in Warsaw at a cost of zl. 18 million, with an expected turnover of two to three thousand cars per year. There are also plans to spend zl. 18 million increasing the capacity of its parts-warehouse in Swiecice (just outside Warsaw). Renault is also to spend zl. 4 million on its IT and training networks. Funding will be provided out of Renault Polska's own capital and from Renault headquarters in France. "By 2003, we plan to have 200 showrooms throughout Poland. However, we will be decreasing the number of licensees and increasing the number of small subsidiaries," said Renault Polska's president Dominique Maciet. Renault is to introduce a new family car, which should help the company to increase its market share. The best-selling Renault car on the Polish market is the Megane, accounting for 40% of total sales. (Puls Biznesu, page 1, 3) M.M.