BIRTH OF A REVOLUTIONARY LOW-COST MODEL
Founded in 1966 in Romania, Dacia, the car manufacturer, has always been linked to Renault: its first model, available only on the local market, was the Renault 8, re-badged as the Dacia 1100 and assembled using parts manufactured in France.
In 1999, Groupe Renault acquired the Romanian manufacturer with a clear vision: to develop Dacia’s expertise and geographical situation to market the cheapest three-box saloon on the market in Eastern Europe, which was then in the midst of reconstruction
A highly ambitious objective that Groupe Renault decided to achieve by breaking the rules. For the first time in automotive industry, the design was completed at a target cost by applying the “design to cost” method. Innovative at the time, this method turned the logic of traditional design on its head: without compromising on reliability and safety, cost optimization became an imperative at every stage of vehicle design. From start to finish, the final sale price was factored into every technical constraint. Under this strategy, the use of proven and amortized Renault group parts and technologies was a considerable asset.
From design to conception and then production, the Dacia project teams operate like a start-up: from scratch, and on a tight budget!
In 2004, the Dacia Logan was unveiled. It revolutionises the market by making a new car widely affordable. With a purchase price comparable to that of a second-hand car, the success is such that it goes on sale throughout Europe from 2005.
An iconic model, the Dacia Logan is on the market to this day. Since 2004, it has achieved sales of 1.8 million units.