Car dealer Wessex Garages has opened its first Renault and Dacia dealership, representing an investment of £500,000, in Newport.

With a 3,831 sq-ft showroom is at the Newport Retail Park.

Wessex Garages is the 14th retail partner to be appointed to the Renault and Dacia network in 12 months.

The growth in the network is another step towards meeting the goals set out in Renault Group UK’s GO5+ strategy – a plan that includes a drive to increase market share to 5% by 2017 and to make the brand a market leader in customer satisfaction and brand opinion.

Wessex Group managing director Keith Brock said: “We are extremely proud to be a part of Renault and Dacia’s expanding dealer network and we feel it is the right time to introduce and give Renault and Dacia a home with Wessex.

“It is an exciting time not only for Renault and Dacia but for us too as we have seen sales across all of our dealerships increase over the past 12 months.

“Our new hi-tech dealership looks absolutely fantastic. It is modern, fully interactive, caters to customers’ needs and enhances their experience.

“People can watch videos about the cars and services available and can make use of a digital lounge, including free wi-fi, to help them select the perfect new car for them.

“Renault and Dacia’s range of cars is the best it has ever been and there are lots more exciting models to come in the future. I am looking forward to a successful partnership with the brand.”

The new Newport dealership, including its nine-car showroom, sits on a three-acre site.

Its opening has created 12 jobs.

The dealership features the latest Renault Store concept.

Darren Payne, Renault Group UK sales director, said: “Wessex Garages have a fantastic reputation and over 30 years’ experience of successful automotive retailing, so we’re very pleased to now have them as part of the Renault Group UK network and that our brand has a significantly stronger presence in South Wales.

The latest Renault and Dacia sales figures perfectly illustrate the attraction of the brands to Wessex Garages and other high-profile dealer groups.

Renault Group sales – comprising of Renault cars, vans and Dacia – were up 15.2% to 62,476 vehicles in the first six months of 2015 according to the latest SMMT figures.

Of that total, Renault car sales for the first six months of this year represented 36,840 vehicles (up 14.9%), Renault van sales stood at 11,169 (up 21.4%) and Dacia 14,465 vehicles (up 11.5%).

The list of new retail partners in the last 12 months:

         RMB Automotive – Darlington
         Glyn Hopkin – Chelmsford
         John Banks – Cambridge
         Pentagon – Lincoln
         Wessex Garages – Newport
         Picador – Southampton
         CCR – Pontypridd
         Savilles – Stourbridge
         Brayley – Milton Keynes
         Marriott Motor Group – Ipswich

A further three are to be announced in early 2016.