Watch your back Volkswagen, Honda and Nissan! This European brand is on the comeback trail in Australia with new SUVs, light commercials and electric cars

The supply issues causing headaches for most major carmakers has dramatically shaken up the new-vehicle sales charts.

Some brands - Mazda, Ford and Volkswagen, for example - have been hit hard by the global challenges, while others like MG and GWM are cruising.

There’s another manufacturer that is doing remarkably well in terms of overall sales this year, and it’s not a Chinese challenger brand.

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It is, in fact, Renault.

The 122-year old marque is on the comeback trail in Australia, after a dismal few years wallowing among the niche players of the local automotive sector.

But new SUV models that are striking a chord with buyers, and a healthy light-commercial vehicle offering have helped the French brand gain back ground lost in the last six years.

The promise of a slew of new models, including an electric SUV, is also helping Renault’s Australian momentum.

To the end of June this year, Renault has sold 5068 units, which represents a 45.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

The new-gen Kangoo van is expected early in 2023.

Renault’s best year in Australia was 2015 when it shifted 11,525 units, but since then sales have gone backwards. If the company can keep up momentum, it could come close to that 2015 figure by the end of this year.

While Renault is in no danger of cracking the top 10 brands this year, it is within striking distance of a number of mainstream brands, including GWM (8557 YTD), Honda (7621), LDV (7173) and Volvo (5772).

The sales turnaround started last year when Renault Australia transitioned from a factory-backed operation to distribution under Ateco Automotive, which already covers a diverse range of brands including Ram, LDV and Maserati.

In a positive sign for the distributor, every single Renault dealer in Australia signed on to transition to Ateco.

The all-electric Megane E-Tech is also coming Down Under next year.

A Renault Australia spokesperson would not be drawn on sales targets for 2022, but said that final tally would depend on supply.

CarsGuide understands that there is stock currently in dealerships across the Renault range, but it's unclear if the supply issues will impact the coming new models.

The facelifted Trafic mid-size van is expected early in the fourth quarter of this year and the new-generation Kangoo light van will arrive in the first quarter of 2023.

Following that, Renault will launch a new electric vehicle, the Megane E-Tech crossover, sometime in 2023. It dropped the expensive Zoe electric hatchback from its line-up in 2020.

The recently revealed Austral SUV - a replacement for the slow-selling Kadjar - is still yet to be confirmed for Australia.

The Arkana SUV has added more sales to Renault's 2022 tally.

The only passenger vehicle left in Renault’s local line-up is the Megane RS hot hatch, but the rest of its line-up is a mix of LCVs and SUVs.

LCVs currently make up 37 per cent of Renault’s sales - led by the Master large van on 832 sales - with most of the rest going to SUVs.

The newest additions to Renault’s line-up are proving popular with buyers. The recently launched second-generation Captur light SUV is up by 215 per cent this year, while the Arkana small coupe-style SUV has added 648 units to the tally. The brand’s top seller is the ageing Koleos medium SUV with 1717 sales so far.

Further down the track, Renault Australia is expected to add Dacia models to its line-up too. But rather than launch the cut-price Romanian brand here, Ateco will sell them with Renault badges, likely from 2024 on.

French sports car brand Alpine is also set for a revival as an electric performance brand, but timing on that is yet to be confirmed.