Renault Rules Out Entry Into US Market Citing Competitive Fears

The Renault-Nissan Alliance already has a strong footing in the United States by offering models from Nissan, Infiniti, and Mitsubishi. However, don’t expect Renault-branded vehicles to join the American range anytime soon, according to a new interview with the automaker’s CEO Carlos Ghosn.

“No, I'm not thinking about that. There is no opportunity for it in this midterm plan,” Ghosn said about launching Renault in the U.S. in a discussion with Automotive News. “Going to the U.S. and selling a few cars is easy. You need to have a real strategy of products and marketing. The U.S. is a very competitive market.”

Instead, Ghosn will focus on growing in Asia with a goal of eventually selling 14 million vehicles a year worldwide by the end of the 2022 fiscal year. “Most of it will come from China,” Ghosn told Automotive News. “As you know, Nissan is deploying its product strategy in China and Renault is starting in China and Mitsubishi is in full growth in China.”

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TomM - 11/20/2017 2:16:58 PM

+6 Boost

Renault would have NO chance here in the USA - we already have a shrinking market for cars - which causes more competition - and puts pressure on pricing. And Renault has no compelling SUV or specialty vehicles we would want.

The same problem exists with PSA but on a worse scale since both Citroen and Peugeot would be Near Luxury - like Buick - and there is not a huge market in the USA for them at all. Again - no compelling other vehicles as well.

qwertyfla1 - 11/20/2017 4:10:55 PM

0 Boost

Or is it because we wouldn't want their stupid cars here that failed miserably before back in the late 80's early 90's. The French should stick to making wine, good food and running from wars -of which they are so good at.

MDarringer - 11/20/2017 4:25:44 PM

+5 Boost

Renault is already here. They are called Nissans. Renault could badge their line as Mitsubishi and instantly solve Mitsubishi's issues.

Peugeot, Citroen, and DS similarly have not a snowball's chance in hell of making it here.

The French make substandard garbage which is why they were repudiated here and why Nissan has such poor reliability.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 11/20/2017 9:08:53 PM

+1 Boost

I think there could be a market for there track focused Megane RS Cup hot hatch. They could take the ground previously occupied by Acura in the 1990's when they had the Integra and Legend. Bring over very sporty cars in key markets.

dumpsty - 11/21/2017 9:28:13 AM

+1 Boost

That's the problem. Renault in the US would be immediately seen as another sub-brand of Nissan by the general consumer. Efforts to establish themselves as a separate brand would be completely lost. They'd have to offer radically different vehicles to distance the brand from both Infiniti & Nissan.

MDarringer - 11/21/2017 10:04:42 AM

+1 Boost

Renault would duplicate everything Nissan has because Nissans are Renaults with ugly styling. The acquisition of Mitsubishi was pathetic and stupid because all Mitsubishi will be is another badge engineered brand like Nissan and Samsung are of Renault.