► Next-generation Dacia Sandero confirmed
► Slated for 2027 or 2028 launch
► And it’ll be battery-electric
A new generation of the Dacia Sandero is coming ‘in either 2027 or 2028,’ according to the brand CEO, Denis Le Vot. This all-new Sandero supermini is at least planned to have an electric variant, if not go BEV entirely when it arrives.
When discussing Dacia’s electrification plans, Le Vot says that Dacia is ‘very lucky because we have time. We’re being protected from CAFE [by the Renault Group’s own electrification strategy] and then we can wait until the right moment. And that moment is the next Sandero, because it’s the next generation.
‘This is going to be in 2027 or 2028, and it’s going to live on until 2034 or 2035.’
Le Vot speaks of the ‘A La Dacia’ strategy, which is to rely heavily on Groupe Renault technology and know-how (as always, and as it does using the CMF-B platform for the current Sandero below) and use a mixed powertrain strategy, which includes electrifying when it believes the time is right.
‘Every car maker is trying to put out its top solution for electric,’ adds Le Vot, ‘which means 500-600km of range and a 20-minute charge on the highway, right? We are certainly not going to do that.
‘Why? Because we have a social role here. Our job is accessible mobility and that includes electric. We brought out the Spring because of that.’
Naturally, Dacia’s prime directive is keeping costs down, so the brand is currently investigating all possible battery chemistries to apply into its electric Sandero model. ‘We will fine-tune all of these equations – maybe the battery will be sodium-based,’ says Le Vot. ‘Some argue sodium batteries aren’t great because they don’t store a lot of energy and they’re heavy… but they’re cheap.
‘We’ll find a way here with the range offered and between the density of energy and charging capacity to find something which is different. The idea is that we will be accessible with it. And we’ll have the answer in two years.’
As Dacia expands its offerings to include the Bigster, Dacia’s design team will be basing future cars off that car’s more muscular and expressive look. Dacia’s design director, David Durand, says: ‘we’re trying to make Dacia more desirable and more modern – we’re more proud of this brand than ever before.’
The new-generation Sandero will likely be based on CMF-BEV – the platform that will also underpin cars like the new Renault 5 and 4, as well as the next-generation Nissan Micra – when it launches from 2027.