After keeping a relatively low profile throughout 2024, Renault South Africa officially detailed its product plans for 2025 at a special press conference in Magaliesberg on Friday.

Why the “silence”?

Attributing the lull in 2024 to exchange rate challenges as a result of paying in euros for its models regardless of country of origin, Zian van Heerden, Renault South Africa vice president for sales and marketing, said it wants to remain a key player in the segments sub-R500 000 where 75% of local consumers buy a vehicle.

“As Renault, we are importers – we don’t export, we only import and for us, the biggest problem until before the (local government) elections was the exchange rate,” van Heerden said.

READ ALSO: First look: the Renault type replaces the Dacia Link on the new Duster

“Everything we buy is in euros and before the elections (the exchange rate) was just under 20 lei. Since then, it has come down to about R19, which is favorable for us.

“At 18.50 lei to the euro, we can import all the nice things, but beyond that, it becomes difficult. And that was one of the main reasons why last year, we had to make the tough call, “do we bring Oroch, yes or no?”

Admitting that both pre-production prototypes shown at the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State last year have since been destroyed, van Heerden said the rand’s comparison to the euro at the time left him no choice but to delay the Oroch de the first generation based on the Duster for an indefinite period as it would simply have been too expensive and not a viable product for the market.

Problems look up

However, expressing positivity about recent forecasts for the local auto sector, van Heerden said that while the rand is prone to swings, “there is no immediate threat to it and our country is quite stable, which should be positive for us”.

“We have seen very good forecasts by certain economists of 18.05 lei to the euro by December next year, which will be very good for vehicle imports into South Africa.”

A job well done

Going forward, van Heerden said the brand’s current four-product line-up – Kwid, Triber, Kiger and Captur – will be significantly stepped up from March next year as it aims to regain its position in the top five vehicle brands, having it was relegated to sixth place by Chery.

“If you look at the top five best-selling brands, the average number of different deals to break even (when it comes to volume) is nine. Below, you will fight.

“The disruptor here is Chery with three and credit to them. But if you want to sell volume, you have to introduce more models,” he said.

“We will look beyond that R500 000 threshold and although we are doing well with the Kwid, Triber and Kiger, we (think there is an opportunity) to participate (in this section of the market).

New products

March: Duster

Introduced earlier this year in select European markets as Renault, after debuting under sister brand Dacia last year, the brand will begin its rollout in March with the debut of the much-delayed Duster.

Originally expected to go on sale in the final quarter of this year, the Duster will be part of Renault’s transition to electrification as it will be motivated by a 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain in place of the much-loved but now discontinued. 1.5 liter turbodiesel.

Originally sourced from the Dacia Plant in Mioveni in Romania, production will move to the Chennai plant in India later this year as part of a strategic move to bring on Bigster in South Africa in either 2026 or 2027.

A move that will coincide with alliance partner Nissan’s expected debut of its two factory-built models based on the Duster and Bigster, the Duster in South Africa will once again be offered with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. , the latter once again offered exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Shown at the conference in near-production all-wheel-drive form, confirmation of the mild-hybrid powertrain looks pretty much like the expected engine to be the TCe 1.2-litre turbo petrol producing 96kW.

A no-no for now is the E-Tech Hybrid, which combines a normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol with a 1.2kWh battery for a total system output of 103kW.

Greater being researched

At the other end of the spectrum, the Bigster, which rides on the same platform as the Duster, will only be offered with seven seats as a means of justifying its projected premium.

Although offered as a five-seater in Europe, the three-row configuration for South Africa was deliberately chosen so as not to cannibalize sales from the five-seater Duster.

No details are currently known about the specification, although Renault has admitted that it has already started discussions on a range structure for South Africa.

Q2: Hi Clio facelift

In addition to the Duster, the second quarter of 2024 will see its debut Clio facelift who also made his first public presentation at the conference.

Unveiled last April, the facelifted model will initially arrive with an unchanged powertrain consisting of the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Although spotted with an automatic ‘box that is not available with the engine in question in Europe, it is known that the premium price attached to the automatic transmission could see it absent again in a similar scenario that prevents Renault from making all-wheel drive. Duster available with two pedals.

For now, the Clio’s exact specifications will only be announced closer to the local launch date.

Fourth quarter bonanza

More broadly, the fourth quarter of the year will see the debut of not only the facelifted Captur, but also the equally delayed model. Arkana in coupe style.

A model that would also have gone on sale in 2024, the delay will actually allow Renault to bring the facelift model on the local market that debuted in Europe last year.

Previewed alongside the now pre-facelift Captur Hybrid at Renault’s Hybrid Efficiency Challenge at Zwartkops Raceway last year, the Arkana will once again be offered exclusively as a hybrid, meaning the same electrified power unit as the Captur, albeit with 105 kW.

Rounding out the quarter, the Trafic van will be joined by the passenger variant targeting the Hyundai Staria, Volkswagen Transporter and the new Ford Tourneo, while at the same time the Kiger and Triber facelifts will make their debuts in response to their world debut in India in April.

Beyond 2025

After 2025, the long-awaited Kadjar replacement will finally debut in form of Symbiosis in 2026, while the Koleos’ successor, the Chinese-made Grand Koleos, remains a no-no for now as production remains a left-hand drive-only affair.

Renault South Africa has, however, revealed that feasibility studies have been set in motion to produce it with right-hand drive and has already expressed interest in offering it locally once converted.

At the other end of the scale, its latest electrics, the refreshed 4 and 5, won’t become available either due to charging network challenges and a lack of government incentives promoting electric vehicles.

Asked about the likely price of the 5, van Heerden said that bringing it to market in the desired specification would come with a price tag of more than R1 million – a move he described as financially unnecessary.

No substitute for Oroch

Also out of the question, despite being of great interest, the Oroch’s successor, the Niagara, will remain customized for Latin America for now, where will debut in 2026.

NOW READ: Oroch missed out again as Renault unveils 2024 product plan