The turning point came in 1999, when the French manufacturer
Renault took over Dacia, with the aim of transforming the brand into a
competitive player in emerging markets. The result of this strategy was the
launch of the Logan model in 2004 – a modern, robust and affordable sedan that
revolutionized access to automotive mobility.
Following the success of the Logan model, Dacia entered a
new stage of development, characterized by international expansion, diversification
of the range and a profound redefinition of the brand identity.
2008 saw the arrival of the Sandero, which proved to be the
biggest commercial success of the brand. With its practical, versatile spirit
and its affordable price, Sandero, now at it’s third generation, took the top
spot for the retail market sales in Europe and was the best-selling car model
on the overall market in 2024.
In 2010, Dacia broke the rules once again by offering the
most affordable SUV on the market: the Duster, an attractive vehicle with true
go-anywhere capabilities, at an accessible price.
With the launch of Spring in 2021, Dacia opened a new
chapter in its history offering the cheapest 100% electric car on the market.
Spring is Dacia’s first electric model, but also the first small city car of
the brand.
Already Europe’s leading B-segment brand, Dacia entered in
2025 in the C-SUV segment with Bigster, a vehicle illustrating Dacia values –
Essential but Cool, Eco-Smart, Robust and Outdoor.
Following Renaulution, the corporate strategic plan of
Renault Group setting the course for each brand, Dacia opened a new chapter in
its history, launching a completely new visual identity. A new world for the
brand and new visual features infused with an outdoor spirit characterized by
the desire to escape, freedom and authenticity.
Dacia’s renewal is embodied by its new logotype and a new
emblem, both markers of a distinctive and assertive brand. Simple and strong,
these new visuals reflect the robustness of Dacia vehicles, a quality that
continues to serve millions of customers every day.
From 2025, Dacia competed as a manufacturer in the World
Rally-Raid Championship, culminating in the Dakar, the ultimate test of
endurance and robustness. The Dakar Rally is a testing ground and a laboratory
of ideas for Dacia, offering the opportunity to test and try out new clever
solutions “à la Dacia”, in terms of outdoor functionalities, but also in terms
of energy choices.
Dacia, simply the essentials
Dacia is all about the essentials. It is constantly
expanding its promise of affordability and simplicity to deliver the best value
for money on the market.
• Essential and cool, a Dacia combination: Dacia cars
are spacious, practical, modular, and functional too.
• Robust & outdoor: Cars designed to withstand
the test of time and the rigors of off-road driving, whatever the terrain.
• Dacia, the eco-smart choice: Dacia solutions are
both economical and greener. By focusing on essentials rather than excess ,
Dacia is able to use fewer resources, select sustainable materials and build
cars that are lighter and more fuel-efficient.
Design – Dacia Design Center
Currently, design is one of the main assets of the Dacia
brand. Models like Duster or Bigster are no longer only glorified for their
price, but also for their cool, adventurous, solid image. And this new wave of
popularity does not come by chance. It comes from the passionate work of a team
of designers.
Established in 2010, Dacia Design Center is the only
automotive design center of the Renault Group in Central and Eastern Europe. A
strategic investment by the group, which saw the potential of opening the
creative studio close to the engineering center where the brand’s future models
are developed.
The studio is used to create full-scale models and color and
material studies. It is a place where cutting-edge technology (virtual reality,
3D modeling, rapid printing) intertwines with creativity. Over 35 designers,
modelers, colours & trim specialists and quality specialists are working at
Dacia Design Center. Although many are Romanian, the team has an international
component, reflecting the brand’s global ambitions.
Dacia design represents a subtle balance between robustness,
functionality and minimalism, and the designers in Bucharest do not design only
for aesthetics, but for specific conditions: different roads, changing weather,
diverse needs. The new design philosophy, visible in the models launched after
2020, reflects a clear maturity: bold front grilles, bright Y-shaped
signatures, clean but expressive surfaces.
