PARIS — Renault Group explained on Friday that it returned to profitability in 2021, beating anticipations and reversing out of two straight years of losses aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent chip offer concerns weighing on the automobile business.
The automaker documented a team share of net financial gain of 888 million euros ($1. billion), beating expectations from the analysts polled by Refinitiv, who had viewed the determine at 818.7 million euros.
The increase follows the get started of a broad restructuring to minimize set expenditures and refocus on Renault’s most financially rewarding automobile versions and marketplaces.
“Renault Team mostly exceeded its 2021 financial targets regardless of the effect of semiconductor shortages and increasing uncooked substance prices,” claimed CEO Luca de Meo in a statement. He reported the performance was helped by the group’s strategy of picking out “price around volumes” and “economic self-control.”
The net revenue followed the preceding year’s significant losses of 8.01 billion euros and a loss of 141 million euros in 2019, its initial in 10 years.
The group’s operating margin of 3.6 % also exceeded its have anticipations. It had previously focused an functioning margin at the identical 2.8 % level it recorded in the very first 50 % of the yr. In 2020, it had a adverse margin of .8 per cent.
In presenting the financial benefits, CFO Clotilde Delbos mentioned she would be stepping down from that posture right after 6 decades to target on Mobilize, Renault’s mobility products and services manufacturer. She explained she would proceed to get the job done carefully with de Meo. Delbos will be succeeded by Thierry Pieton, Renault deputy CFO considering the fact that 2020.
Renault, damage by declining product sales, margins and indirectly by challenges at its alliance companion Nissan, had qualified a constructive automotive operational totally free money move for 2021, following an outflow of 4.5 billion euros in the pandemic-stricken 2020. It posted a beneficial income move of 1.6 billion euros, as it stated it carried out its expense reduction program a 12 months forward of time.
For 2022, Renault is targeting a 4 p.c running margin and at least 1 billion euros in no cost income movement. De Meo mentioned the chip scarcity would provide a shortfall of about 300,000 units, mostly in the very first fifty percent.
The team will not suggest any dividend for 2021.
Renault explained that in 2022 it would make an supplemental 1 billion euro compensation on 5 billion euros in point out-backed loans it acquired in 2020. The loans will be fully repaid by the conclude of 2023, it claimed.
