French driver buys her third Morocco-built Dacia Sandero after 15 years
The Dacia Sandero does more than win over French motorists. It also keeps them loyal to the brand. With a loyalty rate of 73%, Dacia is benefiting from the success of this city car, which is mainly built in Morocco.
Isabelle Zanelli is on her third Sandero. She has been driving this model for more than fifteen years and has no intention of changing her habits. Last July, she received the keys to a new Sandero at a dealership in Blois. There was something special about her purchase: it was the millionth example registered in France since the model was launched in 2008. Le Parisien tells her story this Sunday, October 11.
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Her case is far from unique. Dacia has a loyalty rate of 73%, one of the highest in the French car market. This figure covers the brand as a whole, but the Sandero plays a central role in this lasting relationship with customers. For the past ten years, it has topped new-car sales to private buyers in France.
The purchase price alone does not explain this attachment. According to figures provided by Dacia, the Sandero retains more than 60% of its original value after three years. That is an important selling point for motorists considering reselling their car. Isabelle Zanelli also highlights the model’s versatility and value for money.
A French success built in Morocco
Behind this loyalty is an industry with a substantial presence in Morocco. The factories in Tangier and Casablanca handle most of the Sandero’s production, with the car sold in several European countries. In 2025 alone, the Tangier plant manufactured more than 222,000 examples.
Yet the model has changed considerably in eighteen years. The first generation focused above all on an affordable price and limited equipment. Later versions gained in comfort, design and technology. The arrival of new powertrains, notably LPG, also enabled Dacia to maintain an economical option to run.
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This move upmarket continues with the arrival of hybrid technology. Since July 2026, Dacia has offered a 155-horsepower hybrid powertrain in the Sandero and its Stepway version. It is a significant change for the city car made in Morocco, whose launch schedule had raised questions within the Renault group.
Isabelle Zanelli ultimately chose a Sandero Eco-G 120 with an automatic gearbox. Having owned all three generations, she says she appreciates the model’s improvements without losing sight of what convinced her in the first place: a practical, versatile and affordable car.