Moscow’s Avtoframos plant has launched the assembly of a new Renault coupe-crossover, Renault Arkana. Russia is the first country where this model will be manufactured and sold.
The new car is supposed to expand the company’s presence on the Russian market from 7.6% to 9%.
Executive director of the Autostat agency Sergei Udalov believes that it is quite possible.
“It is quite real, in my opinion. The Arkana is a pretty fashionable car in a fashionable body. Almost all luxury brands now produce coupe-crossovers. Given that Renault is the first one to launch such a car in the mass segment at a very reasonable price (the starting price of an entry-level car is RUR 999K ($16K), the concern does have a good opportunity to expand its market presence in Russia,” the expert said.
Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said at a recent meeting with Renault leaders that “the new car has a large export potential and will be in demand in the CIS countries. We hope that it will expand further.”