Electric attack – 2nd episode
French car manufacturer Renault wants to make its e-cars more popular, reduce the cost of batteries and launch affordable retro vehicles. This is intended to catch up with Stellantis and Volkswagen quickly. The Renault 5 from 1971 is due to be resurrected as an e-car in early 2024.
Renault launches a race to catch up
Renault was one of the first car brands to get involved in e-mobility. But when it comes to small and compact electric cars, Stellantis has long since caught up with the French with compact e-cars from Peugeot and Opel and the Fiat 500e. And Volkswagen has already partially implemented its e-mobility forward strategy and geared it towards consistent growth.
Now Renault is also accelerating its plans and concretizing ambitious e-mobility goals. Renault plans to reduce battery costs by 60% over the next ten years. And the electric motors should drop in price by about 30%. The drive train will be made more compact and deliver greater ranges.
Renault wants to launch ten new e-cars by 2025, compact and medium-sized cars on common and small cars on a separate e-car platform. The new small car platform should reduce manufacturing costs by a good 30%. Accordingly, the acquisition of small Renault e-cars should be significantly cheaper. By 2030, 90% of new car sales are to be accounted for by e-cars.
Retro is the future
The first model under the new Renault strategy will be the compact hatchback Mégane in 2022. For 2024, the Renault 5 has been announced as an e-car with a design that appeals to the original model. And as if to reaffirm Renault’s long-standing image as a small and compact car brand, a model is being developed under the working title «4ever» that alludes to the classic Renault 4. It is scheduled to hit the market in 2025.
For younger readers: The Renault 4 was a five-door sedan with a hatchback and high ground clearance. More than eight million Renault 4 were built from 1961 to 1994. A modern electric version could be built as a so-called crossover
The Renault 4 was built 33 years from 1961 and is ever since a French icon.
Strong partners support ambitious goals
In order to be able to put the ambitious strategy into practice, Renault will combine some plants in northern France into a cluster called “ElectriCity”, which should further reduce the production costs of their e-cars. Annual production there is to be increased to 400,000 vehicles by 2025.
Renault plans to invest a total of 10 billion euros in the electrification of its product range over the next few years. The alliance partner Nissan is to plan investments in the same amount. Renault and Nissan want to jointly build at least one million electric vehicles per year by 2025.
E-mobility for everyone
With its e-mobility strategy, Renault is reaffirming its reputation – affordable mobility for everyone. Renault will again be a serious player in the low and medium price segment in the future.
Inspired by nzz.ch and renaultgroup.com