Dacia’s three million milestone

Renault’s budget brand hits new production landmark after barely 10 years.

The 3,000,000th Dacia, a Sandero Stepway, has been bought by Spanish motorist Andres Palomo Paz.

“Dacia has now sold three million vehicles since the brand’s renewal merely 10 years ago, and that’s something of a unique achievement in today’s automobile industry,” said Nicolas Wertans, Senior Vice-President Global Sales of Renault Group.

He also referred to Dacia’s “straightforward pledge” for motorists “looking for a safe, reliable vehicle with a modern equipment and performance package at an affordable price”.

Manufactured in Romania, Dacia is Europe’s fastest growing car brand and in the first half of 2014, sales have soared by 24.4%.

The company’s international expansion is continuing too. Dacia cars will be available in Israel before the end of the year after successful launches in six markets during 2013, including the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus and Malta.

Since the launch of Dacia in the UK, more than 35,000 Dacias have been sold, with over 18,000 of these finding homes in 2014, while the Sandero Stepway is the most popular model with UK customers.

The brand came to the UK with one mission. To shake up the new and used UK car markets by offering “shockingly affordable” vehicles with high levels of quality, space and equipment for the money.

The pricing helps too – Dacia’s four-model range of Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV and Duster kicks off at just £5,995.

Earlier this year, the Dacia Sandero – the “UK’s most affordable new car” – beat the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris to drive off with the ‘Small Hatchback of the Year’ gong at the honestjohn.co.uk awards.

The Dacia automobile company was founded in 1966 and it started making Renaults under licence from 1968. By the 1990s it was making its own cars, then in 1999 it was bought by the Renault Group.