Renault contacting dealerships in preparation for sales of Chinese-made vehicles

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai June 5) - Renault has already begun contacting dealerships in China for preparation of its domestic production program, bjnews.com.cn reported today. The manufacturer will give priority to import Renault and Dongfeng dealerships.

According to an unnamed representative from a dealership specializing in import Renaults, eligible dealerships may send an application to sell Chinese-made Renaults. If an application is successful, they will be allowed to display and sell domestic Renaults alongside their imported vehicles. Reportedly, Dongfeng Nissan dealerships are also eligible to apply.

Current Dongfeng Nissan Marketing and Sales Vice President Chen Wei is coordinating communication with the dealerships. Mr. Chen has been hinted to oversee dealership network management work in the future. He has been attributed with the expansion of used car sales operations at Dongfeng Nissan dealerships.

According to publicly released statistics, eight billion yuan to ten billion yuan ($1.29b-$1.62b) will be invested into the upcoming joint venture between Renault and Dongfeng. The funds will be used to construct a new 3,000 mu automobile factory in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone. The factory is scheduled to begin operation in 2015 and will boast an annual production capacity of 150,000 automobiles and 150,000 engines by 2017. The Dongfeng Renault joint venture has yet to be officially agreed upon.