Renault Laguna Will Be Imported to China Next Year As Renault-Donfeng Talks Fail - VIDEO ENHANCED

SHANGHAI - September 19, 2007:

Renault's latest generation Laguna will go on sale in China as completely-built imported units next year, an official from Renault's Beijing office said.

Renault (Beijing) marketing director Lin Yaping said the unsuccessful talks between Renault and Dongfeng has led to his company's decision to import Laguna to Chinese market.

Renault and Dongfeng Motor had reached an initial agreement to build a passenger car joint venture in 2004, but later the two sides postponed the project due to a difference in choosing a manufacturing site. Moreover, Renault has seen a downward slide in its global market share with few new models launched over the past several years.

During the Frankfort Motor Show, Renault's president Carlos Ghosn said the difficult situation for Renault has ended, and Renault plans to release more new vehicles in the next 18 months to halt a declining trend in market share.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Click PLAY button below to watch arlos Ghosn's comments at the Frankfurt Motor Show.)

Global sales of Renault have seen an average increase of 11.4 percent in the past two months, a significant growth considering its declining sales over six consecutive months in the first half year. New models, like Kangoo and Clio have contributed to this success.

Renault's third generation Laguna will start volume production in the second half year and go on sale in Europe by the coming October.

Earlier this month, Huang Lixin, Renault’s chief sales officer in East China, said Renault's third generation Laguna will come to China in three versions, including coupe, sedan and touring, and will compete with luxury cars like Audi A4, BMW 3-Series in the Chinese market.

For more information about the burgeoning auto industry in China please visit http://www.gasgoo.com/Autobiz/list/7/China-News.html