Renault to launch new Dacia and own showrooms

French automotive concern Renault intends to maintain a 10% share on the Polish market. A new model of the small Dacia car, the production, which is planned to be launched in Rumania, may turn out to be the concern's secret weapon in Poland. "It will be our reply to Seicento or the Matiz models. We have 30,000 cars on sale at under zl. 30,000," Philippe Jombart, the president of Renault Polska said. Across the country Renault dealers are being consolidated. The weaker ones will have to integrate with the stronger ones. Jombart said this is the result of developing the car sales network, as well as a drop in the number of cars sold. "By the end of 2003, the number of franchise contracts will drop from 68 to 56. At the same time the number of points of sale should increase from 130 to 142," Jombart said. The current situation on the national car market is not positive for new investments, but Jombart is conscious that entirely withdrawing from investment plans would be suicidal. Therefore, next year Renault intends to launch its first car showroom in Poland. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) A.Z.