Australian new car buyers on a budget will welcome the arrival of Renault spin-off Dacia.
The little-known brand, positioned as an affordable alternative to Renault, will launch locally next year.
Renault passed control of its local branch to ATECO, a third party importer already responsible for brands such as Ram, Maserati and LDV, earlier this year.
ATECO boss Neville Crichton told Carsales.com.au that Dacia is “absolutely” coming to Australia.
“We’re going to bring Dacia in. We’re talking to them about the details,” he told the website.
Dacia is positioned as one of the cheapest manufacturers in Europe.
The entry-level Sandero hatchback starts at just £ 7,995 ($ 14,600) in the UK, about £ 3,000 ($ 5,500) less than the cheapest Kia Picanto, which sells in Australia for around $ 19,000.
Dacia’s rock-bottom prices are made possible by leaving out the technology found in more expensive cars.
The Sandero hatchback doesn’t have a traditional touchscreen with satellite navigation, but it does offer a clever dock that drivers can use to securely attach their smartphones to use the map and entertainment functions.
Five-star safety ratings with state-of-the-art driver assistance are also on the program.
But the success of bargain machines like the Chinese-made MG3 hatchback, Australia’s best-selling city car, proves that some customers don’t want to spend a lot of money on their next set of wheels.
Dacia’s Australian range could include the popular Duster crossover.
Driven by a range of Renault engines with up to 110 kW and 250 Nm, the Duster is optionally available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive.
The manufacturer is also considering the orochute.
Based on the Duster, the Oroch light ute is mainly offered in South America, where small pick-ups based on front-wheel drive hatchbacks are a popular option.
A new version of the Oroch is expected to be unveiled in 2022, giving ATECO the opportunity to evaluate whether it is suitable for Australia.