Dacia coming to Scotland next year 20 | 12 | 2011

JUST WHEN YOU thought there were already more than enough car brands to choose from, Romanian company Dacia will launch in Scotland at the end of 2012.

The budget brand — which will sell the Skoda Yeti-sized Duster from less than £10,000, and the Fiesta-rivalling Sandero from less than £7000 — will be sold through every Renault dealership.

The news coincides with Renault's downsizing of its dealership network across Scotland and the rest of the UK: the French manufacturer plans to close one-third of its 190 loss-making UK showrooms.

Renault to close Scots dealerships

But Renault UK's managing director, Thierry Sybord, was quick to insist the Dacia's will not be offered with any discount.

"The price we advertise is the price you pay," he said. "Dacia is something different, something offered at a low price that cannot be negotiated on, even by fleet customers.

"We see Dacia as a good brand for attracting new customers," said Sybord. It's worth noting that most new buyers for Dacia have come from other brands or the used car market."

Both the Duster and Sandero are expected to be offered with 1.6-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines.

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Jim McGill