New Renault Symbol, the carmaker's elegant and seductive new three-box model will be marketed in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay in 2009. It is being presented today in Argentina, less than four months after its unveiling at the Moscow Motor Show.

• New Renault Symbol will be manufactured for all of South America at the Santa Isabel (Cordoba) plant in Argentina.

• This new launch is the latest in an unprecedented product offensive in South America. New Renault Symbol is the sixth vehicle the carmaker has introduced there since 2006, following Mégane Sedan, Mégane Grand Tour, Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway.

• Thanks to this rejuvenated range of cars adapted to the needs of local customers, Renault's sales rose in the region in 2008. At end-November 2008, its sales were up 6.5% (more than 240,000 cars, including 100,000 in Brazil and nearly 75,000 in Argentina) in a market that grew by 4.4%.

New Renault Symbol, an elegant and status-enhancing sedan for South America New Renault Symbol arrives in South America in the first half of 2009, following its launch in Turkey, Russia, Eastern Europe and the Maghreb in the second half of 2008.

This new car in the Renault line-up has been specially designed to meet the needs of international customers who want an elegant, spacious, low-maintenance family car. In South America, as in most fast-growing markets, car owners are looking for versatility – everyday transport for the family, commutes – and New Renault Symbol provides it. Renault Symbol has many pluses that will make it a standout in South America, in a segment where value for money, safety and exterior design are the top selling points. New Symbol is positioned in the gap between Logan and Mégane Sedan.

The sixth model launched in South America since 2006
In all these countries, New Renault Symbol replaces the three-box Clio, on the market since 2000. This new model is the latest move in an unprecedented product offensive in the region that has generated very strong sales.

- In Brazil, Renault's sales exceeded 100,000 units in October and reached 107,000 units at end- November, 63.5% higher than at the same time in 2007, in a market that had expanded by 17.5%.

- In Argentina, Renault's market share was more than 12%, with almost 75,000 sales at end- November.

A key role for South American teams in the project
Developed at the Technocentre in France, Renault Symbol has been adapted to local conditions and customer expectations in South America by drawing on the expertise of the Renault teams in the region.

Some 50 engineers in Argentina and Brazil were put on the development team. Their contributions included:
. in Argentina, 180,000 km of reliability/endurance running tests, 15 acoustical test missions, extreme heat tests in a climate chamber at the Cordoba plant, prototypes;

. in Brazil, all engine development work, in particular for the engines that run on E100 bioethanol, which are specific to this region.

The local purchasing team oversaw the suppliers. The local sourcing rate is 50% in Argentina and 80% in the region. Single sourcing for all South American markets: the Santa Isabel plant at Cordoba, Argentina New Renault Symbol for the South American markets will be produced exclusively in Argentina at Renault's Santa Isabel plant, a Renault facility dating back several decades (see annex). New Renault Symbol will be manufactured on the assembly line alongside Clio II. Forty million euros have been invested to set up the manufacturing of this new model in Argentina, mainly at the plant (stamping and bodywork) and at suppliers'. A total of €64 million will be invested in the plant between 2007 and 2010 – most of it for Renault Symbol, though some of the funds will be used to transfer Clio
II production from Brazil to Argentina.

The second assembly line at the Santa Isabel plant is dedicated to Renault Kangoo (car and light commercial vehicle versions). The Santa Isabel plant is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and like all the group's plants, it uses the Renault Production Way (RPW).
Renault Symbol’s engines (gasoline) will be produced at the Curitiba plant in Brazil and the gearboxes at the Cormecanica plant at Los Andes, Chile.

Autobest votes New Renault Symbol best car of the year New Renault Symbol has received a thumbs-up reception from the press and car buyers. It won the "Autobest 2009" award for the best car in the Central and East European markets (Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, etc.). By choosing it, the jury of 15 automotive journalists in these countries "highlighted the capacity of New Renault Symbol to appeal to customers in this geographic region, which has a population of over 300 million."