just-auto| Simon Warburton: Groupe Renault has unveiled record sales for 2016, up 13.3% to 3.18m vehicles with Iran the stand-out market booming 110% to double its market share in a single year.

Worldwide passenger car and light commercial vehicle sales rose by 13.3% in 2016, against 4.6% for the market as a whole. The Group's share of the world automotive market stands at 3.5% (up 0.3 points vs 2015). Both Renault and Dacia brands also registered record sales.

It is Iran which has caught the eye in a stellar set of results however, despite uncertainty engendered by hawkish remarks surrounding the recent international deal with Tehran�from US President-elect Trump,with sales surging 110.7% to give Groupe Renault an 8.4% market share, up 3.7 points compared to�2015.

The Groupe maintains it has "reclaimed" its position as a major player on the Iranian market, doubling its market share in a single year after successful performance from Tondar and Sandero.

The manufacturer continued to benefit from buoyant conditions on the European automotive market (up 7% compared to 2015), with registrations up 11.8% to 1,805,290, for a market share of 10.6%.

Outside Europe, Groupe Renault achieved record sales in 2016, up 15.3% on 2015 against growth of 5.2% on the market as a whole. Volumes and market shares were up in all regions.

"In 2016 we sold 3.18m vehicles worldwide, setting a new sales record," said Renault Group executive VP sales & marketing, Thierry Koskas.

"Our strategy of product range renewal and geographic expansion, under way for several years now, has proven to be successful. It enables Groupe Renault to progress significantly in terms of volume and market share in each region."

In�Europe, Groupe Renault's market share (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) rose by 0.5 points to 10.6%, while registrations rose11.8% to 1,805,290. Sales were up in all the countries in the region.

Sales were up again for the�Renault brand, which becomes Europe's second biggest automotive brand. With 1,390,280 vehicle registrations (up 12.1% on 2015), Renault's market share rose 0.4 points on 2015 to reach 8.1%.

On the�passenger car market, Renault's market share rose more than any other brand in Europe, by 0.4 points. For the European�light commercial vehicle market, Renault brand sales rose 9.9% to reach 296,187 vehicles, for a market share of 14.8%.

After eleven years on the European market,�Dacia brand�sales were again up in 2016 (by 10.8%), at a record 415,010 registrations.

The Renault brand stays at the top of the European�electric vehicles market, with sales up by 11 % at 25,648�units (excluding Twizy). ZOE heads the electric passenger car ranking with 21,735 registrations (up 16%) and Kangoo Z.E. the electric light commercial vehicle market, with 3,901 vehicles sold.

In�France, Groupe Renault achieved its best sales performance in five years. Renault widened its lead as France's leading automotive brand, with 22.3% of the passenger car and light commercial vehicle market, while Dacia sales hit a record high of 112,000 units, ranking fourth for sales to private motorists.

Despite uneven economic situations across the globe, Groupe Renault says it strengthened its positions to increase its market share in all regions.

For the�Africa / Middle East / India region, Groupe Renault registrations rose by 36.4%, giving a market share of 6.2% (up 1.7 points).�In�India, Renault kept its position as the best-selling European automotive brand, with sales up by 145.6%. Kwid registrations totalled 105,745. India rose five places to become the group's eighth biggest market worldwide.

North Africa showed Groupe Renault holding�a 38.5% market share, up by 4.9 points. In�Algeria, its market share reached a record 51.3% in 2016, up by 15.7 points, benefiting from local production of Symbol.

In�Morocco, where Dacia and Renault hold first and second places respectively, Groupe Renault registrations rose by 22.5%, with record sales yielding a market share of 37.8%.

For the�Eurasia�region, registrations rose by 2.3% despite market shrinkage of 6.3%. Market share rose accordingly, by 1.1 points to 13.0%, largely driven by strong performance with record sales in�Turkey�(up 4.4%). Megane Sedan orders topped�13,200 in the first two months.

Sales growth in most of the countries in the region offset the impact of the economic crisis in�Russia, where the market collapsed by 10.8%. Renault was able to contain the decline in its sales here at 2.6%, to achieve a record market share of 8.2%, up by 0.7%, chiefly owing to successful performance from Kaptur, which sold more than 14,600 units since it was launched in June.

In the�Americas�region, Groupe Renault sales rose by 0.1% despite market shrinkage of 4.1%, holding up to the economic difficulties with a market share of 6.5%, up by 0.3 points.

In�Brazil, market share rose by 0.2 points to a record 7.5%, on a market that slipped back 19.8% thanks to the�performance of the Duster Oroch. In 2017, the group will benefit of its brand new SUV range with Captur, Kwid and New Koleos as well as the arrival of Alaskan.

The Renault brand continues to reap the benefits of pick-up on the�Argentinian�market, with registrations up by 24.8% against growth of 9.1% in the market as a whole. In�Colombia, sales volume and market share hit records (21.3%).

In the�Asia Pacific�region, Renault Samsung Motors�sales rose 38.8% in South Korea despite the 0.3% shrinkage of the market: market share was up 1.7 points at 6.2% thanks to the successful launches of SM6 and QM6 in 2016. QM6 orders reached 21,000 in four months.

In�China, following release of Kadjar, the first vehicle made locally by the Dongfeng Renault joint venture, Renault sales rose by 50.8% against market growth of 14.0%. New Koleos orders approached 10,000 in two months.

International outlook:

In 2017, Renault estimates the global market is expected to grow by 1.5% to 2% compared with 2016. The European market is also forecast to increase by 2%, with a 2% rise also for France.

Renault notes the Brazilian and Russian markets are expected to become stable, while China will grow 5% and India by 8%.

"Groupe Renault should continue to reap the benefit of product range renewal in Europe�and of the strong dynamic on international markets, with Kwid in India, Koleos and Kadjar in China, Kaptur in Russia, QM6 and SM6 in South Korea, and Alaskan plus the SUV range in Latin America," added a Renault statement.

"Groupe Renault therefore expects a sustained growth in sales volumes and market shares in Europe and in the international markets."