Duster sales success limited by supply constraints

RENAULT has launched its keenly anticipated Duster compact SUV into the Australian market this week, the Romanian-built rival to the likes of the Jeep Compass, Subaru Crosstrek, and Suzuki Jimny to be sold initially in limited numbers because of its popularity in other markets.

Speaking at the launch of the Renault Duster in Melbourne this week, the French importer said that despite the model’s importance locally, supply of the Duster will be restricted until early in 2026 as the manufacturer works to produce vehicles for over 100 markets globally.

“The Duster will arrive in Australia initially in pretty limited numbers,” explained Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey.

“Our initial production was limited simply because the demand for the Duster overseas is off the charts. It’s one of the top sellers in Europe, outright, so we’re lucky to secure initial allocation early.”

With certain variants of the Duster already on the waiting list, the initial shipment will serve to offer sufficient stock to establish the nameplate locally before Australian allocation increases in the new year.

“We didn’t want to wait until next year for the volume of the vehicle to (increase to) get a bigger allocation. Customers have been pleading with us to bring the Duster to Australia and we didn’t want to keep them waiting,” added Mr Sealey.

“The good news is that more cars are coming in from over the next year, but it means that we will likely sell out of the first shipment of Duster quite quickly.

“If the response from customers so far – and from our dealers – is any indication, I suspect the Duster will develop a waiting list in no time.

“We ask our customers to be patient (and to understand that) we are working with the factory to get a larger allocation of Duster from early next year.”

While Mr Sealey would not be drawn on the number of Duster models available in the initial shipment – or on the customer order bank – he said the model plays an important role in rejuvenating the Renault brand in the sub-$45,000 price point.

“I could sit here and say a number, but the reality is … that shipping is pretty hard to get at the moment,” he noted.

“The Duster is a really important model here in Australia, not just because it stands out in a segment of same-same SUVs, but because it has a distinctive design, unique capabilities, and because it represents a new entry point to the Renault brand.

“It has been quite a journey getting the Duster to the price point that we have today … and it was important for several reasons.

“First of all, we wanted to strike the right balance between the aspiration of the vehicle while still making it attainable, and secondly, we wanted to compete at the heart of the sub-$45K SUV category.

“It was critical that we were able to price the Duster in that $30-40K range, and we’re pleased to have been able to achieve that for our customers.”

Speaking via satellite from France, Renault and Dacia Duster global program director Julien Ferry said the model’s popularity over its three generations on sales has continued to see demand increase wherever it is sold.

“It’s a model whose success is widespread around the world,” he explained.

“To date, over 1.7 million units have been sold under the Renault badge into over 100 countries – and to that we can add those sold under the Dacia badge, mostly in Europe, which is another 30 countries and more than 2.5 million sales.

“This success is very precious to us, and it gives us a lot of feedback that we put back in to designing the car.

“The feedback from our customers has worked its way into more than 500 validation vehicles and more than two-million kilometres of testing. We make everything to be robust. It’s a worldwide model and we adapt (the Duster) to each market (in which it is sold).”

While the changes to the vehicles are rather limited, Mr Ferry said it was important that the Duster is fine-tuned to suit the different expectations and driving styles of countries whose roads can be unmade or unsealed, through to those with crisp lane markings and sign-posted streets.

“Even for Australia we have adapted the model,” he stated.

“Each time we go to market we adapt the chassis, and we did this for the Australian market. We also adjusted the ADAS technologies of our camera-based system for the market.

“(Basically), anything that is needed we fine-tune to make sure it is better adapted to the local customer who wants to buy the car.”

Mr Ferry said that while the differences in terrain, altitude, weather, and road surfaces experienced in Australia are at times a challenge for new entrants to the market, the go-anywhere capabilities of the Duster are a hand-in-glove fit for our varied conditions.

“It is a different market, and I think the best feature of this car – its ability to go off-road – will make it a success here,” he smiled.

“The four-wheel drive (system’s) performance and the low weight of this car will obviously help it a lot.

“It is an asset globally for this car, because everything is linked to weight. It allows us to have lower fuel consumption, it allows better ride and handling, and lower emissions of course.”

The Renault Duster is on sale now. Visit GoAuto again for our local launch review of the model from Lang Lang in Victoria.