Renault UK will open one of its urban point-of-sale concept stores, branded RNLT, in London at the end of this year.
The outlet, which will be operated by Renault Retail Group, will form a key part of the launch strategy for the new Renault 5 electric supermini, Renault UK’s managing director Guillaume Sicard told AM-online.
Designed with space for two or three new cars, in a relaxed and family-focused environment, the RNLT outlets provide a range of sales and aftersales services, including test drives, vehicle delivery, and maintenance/repair for city centre customers.
He wouldn’t reveal the exact location, adding that contracts are still being confirmed, however he said it will be in a highly visible place “that gets lots of traffic” and that befits the Renault brand.
“It is important for people to see Renault in the market,” Sicard said. The brand is focused on regaining much of the market share it has lost in the past five years, and at the half-year point it has reached 2.8% share compared to 1.8% at the same point in 2023.
Sicard said its retail share is now strongest since 2017.
A pop-up store, using many of the features of a RNLT store, has just opened at Westfield London, displaying the new Scenic EV and Renault 5.
Open until July 28, the pop-up can also provide test-drives of the Renault Scenic E-Tech so that prospects can experience zero emissions motoring. Incentives for shoppers to book a test-drive include Renault paying their parking for up to six hours, plus they will receive a pocket-sized version of the car.
Brand marketing for Renault, using the ‘Rethink’ messaging and images of the Renault 5, is now active around the EuroTunnel site and at St Pancras Eurostar terminal, targeting holidaymakers heading to France this summer.
Sicard said his UK dealers are excited about the prospects of the R5, which has already attracted 9,000 ‘registrations of interest’ from potential customers plus 500 sales of the ‘R-Pass’ which, for £150, puts customers first in the queue to order the 52kWh Renault 5 at their selected Renault dealer. The R-Pass fee is not deducted from the cost of the car they order.
