Renault said the dip in sales comes "in a context
disrupted by the semiconductor crisis and marked by the shutdown of the group's
activities in Russia".
Semiconductors are electronic components that are
indispensable in both conventional petrol-powered and electrical vehicles.
The global shortage of such parts has forced carmakers
around the world to throttle and even halt production temporarily.
Renault said its own brand continued to post strong growth
in the electrified market.
"Electrified markets are booming in Europe and Renault
is well placed to meet this new customer demand with suitable products,"
said Fabrice Cambolive, deputy chief of the Renault brand.
"In the second half of the year, we will accelerate the
electrification of our range with the launches of the all-New Megane E-Tech
electric, Kangoo E-Tech electric and New Austral," Cambolive said.
The E-Tech range -- electric vehicles and hybrid powertrains
— accounted for 36 percent of passenger car sales in Europe in the first half
of 2022, compared with 26 percent in 2021, Renault said.
Tesla's sales from April through June also fell to their
lowest quarterly level since last fall as supply chain issues and pandemic
restrictions in China hobbled production of its electric vehicles.
The company on Saturday disclosed it sold more than 254,000
cars and SUVs from April through June, an 18 percent drop from the first three
months of this year and also well below the pace in last year's final quarter.
The last time Tesla sold fewer vehicles globally was in the third quarter of 2021 when it delivered 241,000.