Renault announces significant gains in annual sales, revenues and profits.

• New registrations up 3.2% to 2.7 million units
• Group revenues: €41,055 million (+0.3%). Excluding foreign exchange rate effect, +3.1%
• Group operating profit: €1,609 million, or 3.9% of revenues, compared to €1,242 million and 3.0% in 2013
• Automotive operating profit: €858 million, compared to €495 million in 2013 (2.2% vs 1.3%)
• Group operating income: €1,105 million versus minus €34 million
• Net income: €1,998 million versus €695 million in 2013
• Positive Automotive operational free cash flow: €1,083 million

“We met all the objectives announced for 2014. This milestone positions us on track to achieve our strategic plan, ‘Renault Drive the Change’. 2015 should allow us to take a new step forward, thanks to an unprecedented product offensive in the history of Renault,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renault.

In 2014, Group revenues came to €41,055 million, an increase of 0.3% compared to 2013. At constant exchange rates, revenues grew by 3.1%.

The contribution of the Automotive division to revenues amounted to €38,874 million, up 0.3% vs 2013. The Group offset negative currency variations by increasing prices outside Europe and by the strong growth of sales to partners.

The Group's operating profit reached €1,609 million, compared to €1,242 million in 2013 (3.9% of revenues vs 3.0% in 2013).

The Automotive operating profit rose by €363 million to €858 million, representing 2.2% of revenues. This performance results from cost reductions and from growth in sales while unfavorable foreign exchange rates and the enrichment of some end-of-life models impacted negatively.

Sales Financing contributed to €751 million to Group operating profit compared to €747 million in 2013. The drop in net banking income was offset by an increase in average loans outstanding and by growth in services. The cost of risk remained stable at 0.43%.

Other operating income and expense items were negative by €504 million, mostly due to restructuring costs of €305 million and the impairment of assets for €153 million.

Group operating income came to €1,105 million compared to -€34 million in 2013. This improvement results from the increase in operating profit and the reduction in other operating expenses of €772 million.

The contribution of associated companies, mainly Nissan, was €1,362 million, compared to €1,444 million in 2013, including the negative contribution of AVTOVAZ for -€182 million.

Net income came to €1,998 million and net income, Group share, to €1,890 million (€6.92 per share compared to €2.15 per share in 2013).

Automotive operational free cash flow was positive at €1,083 million, due to the increase in profitability, as well as a positive change of €596 million in the working capital requirement over the period.

A dividend of €1.90 per share, vs €1.72 last year, will be submitted for approval at the next Shareholders’ Annual General Meeting.

2015 OUTLOOK

In spite of the uncertainties surrounding numerous economies, global car demand should continue to grow this year (+2 %). The European market should also show a slight positive growth (+2 %) while we continue to expect high volatility in our main emerging markets:

In this context, Renault Group aims to:

• increase further its registrations and revenues (at constant exchange rates),
• continue to improve the Group’s operating margin and that of the Automotive division,
• generate positive Automotive operational free cash flow.

Renault consolidated Results

€ million	2014	2013	Change
Group revenues	41,055	40,932	+0.3 %
Operating profit % of revenues	1,609 3.9 %	1,242 3.0 %	+367 +0.9pts
Other operating income and expenses items	-504	-1,276	+772
Operating income	1,105	-34	+1,139
Net financial income	-333	-282	-51
Contribution from associated companies	1,362	1,444	-82
o/w : NISSAN	1,559	1,498	+61
AVTOVAZ	-182	-34	-148
Current and deferred taxes	-136	-433	+297
Net income	1,998	695	+1,303
Net income, Group share	1,890	586	+1,304
Automotive operational free cash flow	1,083	827	+256

JANUARY UK SALES - NISSAN - fastest growing brand by market share, mmm, iffy !

• Fastest growing brand by market share compared with the same time last year
• Nissan car registrations reach over 11,000 for first month of the year – the best ever January in the company’s history
• UK-built stars – Qashqai, Juke, Note, and LEAF – reach highest ever January volume
• Company soars to fourth place in the UK’s top-selling brands
• January share of the passenger car market hits record high of 6.72%

Nissan Motor GB Limited has recorded its best ever start to a year with 11,076 cars sold in January – an increase of 25.9% or 2,277 registrations over the same period last year.

The company also stormed to its highest ever share of the January passenger car market at 6.72%, with the award-winning all-new Qashqai continuing its segment domination with over 4,500 sales.

Also at the heart of this sales success was Nissan’s other UK-built stars – the 100% electric LEAF, the Note, and the Juke – which all soared to their highest ever January registrations.

Nissan bolstered its position as the fastest growing brand in the UK with a total market share increase of 1%. This increased share of the car market puts the company at fourth position in the UK.

Helping to drive sales was Nissan’s diverse range of crossovers including the Qashqai, Juke and all-new X-TRAIL. Nissan continued to dominate this fast-growing category registering almost 8,000 units a 32% increase over the same period last year.

This powerful start to the year continues on from the company’s record-breaking 2014, during which 138,338 cars were sold – a 17% increase over 2013’s full year sales.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Double delight for Nissan with Qashqai and Pulsar winning awards.

• Nissan Qashqai retains crown as What Car?’s Best Small SUV
  • British-built Qashqai praised for blend of comfort, refinement and practicality
  • New n-tec+ trim is the judges’ pick with class-leading levels of refinement, generous standard equipment and overall practicality
• Newly launched Pulsar hatchback chosen as a Best Buy Family car under £16,000 for 1.2 DIG-T 115 Visia
  • Newcomer praised for “incredible value” offering customers the “complete package”
  • Entry-level model gets air-conditioning, electric windows, Bluetooth and six airbags

It was a successful night for Nissan at the annual What Car? Awards in London as the brand scooped an overall category win along with a Best Buy Family Car accolade.

For the second year running, Nissan’s pioneering Qashqai crossover won the title of Best Small SUV while the all-new Pulsar hatchback was chosen as a Best Buy Family car under £16,000 in the hugely competitive Family Car category.

Designed, engineered and built in Britain, the Qashqai continues to deliver an unrivalled package of technology, safety, practicality and efficiency

James Wright, Managing Director, Nissan Motor GB, said: “After winning Qashqai’s category and the outrightCar of the Year crown last year, we are extremely delighted with this year’s category win – especially considering the strong competition in this fast-growing segment.

“Like the Qashqai, the new Pulsar majors on technical innovations, safety and practicality – boasting the largest rear legroom of any C-segment hatchback available in the UK. It adds yet another dimension to Nissan’s diverse product line-up and ensures the brand offers a product to suit every customer’s needs.”

Jim Holder, Editor of What Car? said: “The Qashqai was chosen on the strength of its overall offering in terms of practicality, refinement and standard equipment. As impressive at the new Citroen and Range Rover are, neither really come close to dethroning the Qashqai as our top Small SUV.

“The Pulsar meanwhile delivers incredible value with the entry grade Visia. It’s hard to think of any other model in this price bracket that offers such a complete package.”

As standard, the Pulsar 1.2 DIG-T 115 Visia costs £15,995 OTR and benefits from air-conditioning, Bluetooth, electric windows, 16-inch alloys as well as safety equipment such as six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and electronic stability control.

Testament to the Qashqai’s popularity, Nissan produced the two millionth Qashqai at its Sunderland factory in November last year – making it the fastest car model to reach this milestone in the history of the UK car industry.

What Car?’s favourite Qashqai is the recently introduced n-tec+ model, which replaced the Acenta Premium grade. With n-tec+, owners get and even greater level of value thanks to a multitude of safety and comfort features including Around View Monitor (AVM), Forward Emergency Brake (FEB), and additional equipment including roofrails and a Panoramic roof with prices starting at £22,250 OTR (or £21,700 OTR for n-tec).