Renault Korea’s June sales slip 4.8 pct despite strong domestic demand

SEOUL, July 1 (Yonhap) -- Renault Korea Motors, the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Tuesday its sales retreated 4.8 percent in June from a year earlier despite strong domestic demand. Renault Korea sold 8,568 vehicles last month, down from 9,002 units a year earlier, the company said in a press release. Domestic sales more than doubled to 5,013 units from 2,041 over the cited period, while exports plunged 48.9 percent on-year to 3,555 units from 6,961. Increased sales of the midsize Grand Koleos sport utility vehicle (SUV) led the strong domestic sales, selling 4,098 units in the month. However, sluggish overseas sales of the QM6 midsized SUV and Arcana SUV weighed heavily on the company's June exports. Cumulative sales between January and June reached 47,027 units, up 11.6 percent from 42,113 units sold over the same period last year. Domestic sales more than doubled to 28,065 vehicles from 11,213, more than offsetting a 38.7 percent decline in exports to 18,962 from 30,920 units over the said period. This photo provided by Renault Korea Motors shows the New Grand Koleos. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) brk@yna.co.kr(END)