Renault swings to profit on EVs despite rise of Chinese rivals

Renault returned to profit in the first half of the year, reporting a 9.4% rise in revenue and citing strong electric vehicle sales even as car-price pressure grows in Europe from incumbents and Chinese rivals. The French automaker posted an operating margin of 5.2% for the six months, down from 6% in the first half of 2025 but above analysts’ 5% estimate. Renault kept its 2026 margin target at 5.5% versus 6.3% in 2025. Fully electric sales climbed 47.6% year-on-year, with EVs making up one in five new vehicles. Net profit was €700 million, helped by a large 2025 one-off loss tied to Nissan.