After an unprecedented downturn, the GCC automotive industry seems to have recovered fully. The automotive sector’s robust growth in the first half of 2012 reflects the sector’s rapid recovery in the year.

Industry experts expect this growth to accelerate further throughout the year, since the Middle East is one of the world’s largest importers of automobiles and automotive accessories.

The UAE’s automobile market grew by only six per cent during the first half of 2011 compared with the same period last year, and the figure has even bettered this year. The sector’s analysts claim that last year’s performance was poor due to several reasons, one of which was the tragedy that was experienced by Japan, considered as the global automotive hub.

Japan’s domestic sales of new cars, trucks and buses dropped 37 per cent from a year earlier in March last year, as the devastating earthquake and tsunami the previous year disrupted domestic production for all automakers and cut off vehicle supplies to dealers, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers’ Association.

The massive quake and tsunami hit auto assembly and parts manufacturing plants in north-eastern Japan, causing parts shortages for domestic and some overseas car makers.

Speaking to the Gulf Today during the week, Mustansir Lakdawala, Renault GCC Managing Director, disclosed that in the first half of 2012, Renault brand performed strongly and faster than the market evolution which, he added is a testimony of the quality of the company’s product and services as well as the level of confidence and commitment of its distributors.

He said that throughout 2012, Renault will definitely hit a new sales record in the GCC adding that Renault is very confident that the brand popularity will continue to extend massively in the coming years.

Renault GCC has sold in the first half 2012 close to 6000 units reporting a growth of 32 per cent for over the same period in 2011. The increase is significantly higher than the 20 per cent Growth of the market Total Industrial Volume.

Furthermore, Renault now ranked 17th among automotive Brands in the GCC, a positive jump by two ranks compared to the same period in 2011.

3 Renault models (Logan, Fluence and Safrane) are now among the top 15 bestselling European models in the region, according to a survey.

In the C segment Renault Fluence is number 1 bestselling European model with plus 29 per cent sales increase compared to the six first months of 2011.

In addition, Safrane, Renault flagship model in now entering in the Top 20 of the bestselling models in the challenging and very competitive DE Segment. The New Renault Safrane performance at the end of June 2012 is + 118 per cent compared to the same period 2011.

From May 2012, Renault GCC has introduced the shockingly affordable new Renault Duster which has in just 2 months at the end of June 2012 entered the top 20 bestselling models in the SUV-S Segment.

In Saudi Arabia, Renault keeps its title of first European Brand far ahead from the other European competitors. In a Saudi market on rise by 15 per cent, Renault performance is +29 per cent from January to June 2012.

In UAE, Renault continues its fast growing momentum with + 49 per cent growth almost doubling the market evolution, which makes Renault among the top 10 fastest growing car Brands in UAE.

In Oman, Renault is the number one European brand with 3 models in the top 5 of best European selling cars.

Pan GCC, the performance of Renault is sustained by a strong sales evolution in markets like Qatar with + 36 per cent, Bahrain with +49 per cent and Kuwait with + 138 per cent.

Benoit Turibe, Marketing Director, Renault GCC, said that for the last 2 years, the company has being very active in promoting the brand and its assets.

“We are now collecting month after month the benefits of this improved Brand awareness and line-up familiarity among people looking for cars with perfect price, quality and features ratio,” said Turibe.

Major automotive retailers in the UAE across sectors have unveiled a wide spectrum of offers and promotions during the holy month of Ramadhan, hence reporting robust sales.

Most of the retailers offered an unbeatable package of supporting benefits that including five years of complimentary service, five years unlimited mileage warranty, complimentary first year insurance and the opportunity to finance at a highly competitive bank profit rate starting from only 2.49 per cent.