The source for the rumors from summer 2023 was also Le Vot, who already confirmed the premiere in 2027 or 2028, but his statements about the drive were still a little unclear. Things are different now: “The next generation Sandero will have an internal combustion engine, but there will also be an electric version,” the Dacia boss is quoted by “Automotive News Europe”. The new generation of Dacia’s best-selling model will start in 2027 or 2028 and will be available until 2035, when the ban on combustion engines for new cars in the EU takes effect.
The Sandero is the Romanian brand’s bestseller and was the second best-selling car in Europe in 2023 behind the Tesla Model Y – with 235,839 units sold. The current Sandero generation has been on the market since 2020, so a replacement in 2027 or 2028 would correspond to the usual model cycle. The model is based on Renault’s CMF platform like the Clio and Captur.
Le Vot did not specify in the interview which platform the upcoming Sandero will be based on. The CMF-B from Renault, i.e. the “Common Modular Family” for the B segment, is still conceivable. The AmpR Small (formerly known as CMF-BEV) of the recently introduced Renault 5 and the upcoming Renault 4 is a version of the CMF-B optimized for electric drives. This means that vehicles from both platforms can be produced on one line – and Dacia could offer both combustion engines and electric drives with a Sandero body.
Le Vot also did not comment on the price at which an electric Sandero could be offered. So far, the brand has focused on offering cars that are as affordable as possible and has often used older Renault technology for this purpose. With the AmpR Small, Dacia would be using the group’s latest technology and may have a harder time achieving cost advantages. A change in cell chemistry would be possible, but not confirmed. Even the Renault 5 for 25,000 euros uses an NMC battery. With LFP cells or even sodium-ion batteries, Dacia could save money on purchases and offer the model cheaper.
Not only is the battery technology of the upcoming Sandero still open, but also Dacia’s future in the electric small car segment. According to Le Vot, the decision-making process is still ongoing as to whether Dacia will offer another model in the segment after the revised Spring is phased out. Renault has announced the Twingo, a model built in Europe for less than 20,000 euros, from which Dacia could also benefit, according to Le Vor. “It’s not really about the A or B segment, but about bringing affordable electric mobility to the market,” says Le Vot. Here too it is about the possible starting price of the vehicle. There were also rumors that Dacia could use the cheaper Twingo platform derived from the AmpR Small for the Sandero. Although this would be larger, it could benefit from the technically simpler platform in order to reduce the price.
A similar decision is also pending for the next generation of the SUV Duster, which is expected to come onto the market in 2032: In Europe, the ban on combustion engines is getting closer and closer, but Dacia and Renault are also active in other markets where combustion engines are still offered. The Renault 4 could provide the technology for the Duster. But here too the question arises: What starting price can Dacia realize if the technology comes from Renault, which is offered at the same time?
