Tag Archives: Renault

China’s Geely Reportedly Forming New JV With Renault, Could Allow Duty-Free Cars Into The U.S.

December 22, 2021 admin

Geely and Renault are rumored to be on the verge of announcing a new partnership. The two companies are reported to have been working on a joint venture since the beginning of the year, with the details finalized and an announcement imminent.

The venture will help create a new plug-in hybrid-focused automotive brand, reports Reuters. Chinese automaker, Geely, is expected to provide their CMA architecture that both Geely and Volvo currently use. Renault will focus its attention on design and marketing, focusing on the world’s largest car market — China.

A Chinese Re-entry For Renault, South Korean Lynk & Co For Geely

The deal will allow Renault to re-enter China, which it exited a year ago when a JV with Dongfeng was dissolved. It may also be a way for the French company to expand its presence throughout Asia, with particular attention paid to its South Korean assembly plant that has manufactured vehicles under Renault Samsung Motors. Renault has held an 80% stake in Samsung Motors since 2000 and is South Korea’s third-largest automaker.

Geely may be able to gain access to any number of Renault’s production facilities, but it’s thought that the Busan plant in southeastern South Korea is of particular interest. According to the report’s unnamed sources, Lynk & Co, a brand under Geely, may produce its 01 SUV locally, with other hybrid offerings from the brand being considered. These could be sold under the Renault Samsung name.

Geely’s Ticket To The U.S.

In addition to propping up Renault Samsung (whose sales have been waning) and gaining access to the Korean market, there’s another significant benefit for Geely.

By producing vehicles in South Korea, the Chinese company could very well gain a form of duty-free “backdoor entry” into the U.S. market. Sino-U.S. tensions have hurt trade for Chinese automakers trying to break into the second-biggest car market in the world. But the deal with Renault could open up the possibility of utilizing South Korea’s free-trade agreement with the United States to export its Lynk & Co vehicles.

As of yet, there is no solid indication of a time frame for an announcement. It also isn’t quite clear where this arrangement will fit in with the Renault-Nissan alliance.

Renault 4 Van: All We Know About The Retro-Flavored Electric LCV

December 19, 2021 admin

This article includes illustrations made by Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops based on teasers and information we’ve obtained. They are not related to or endorsed by Renault.

Renault’s ambitious electrification plan is already underway, and the Mégane E-Tech will soon be joined by the Renault 5 supermini, the 4ever SUV, and a commercial vehicle variant inspired by the Renault 4 Fourgonette (1965-1992). The latter has already been teased by Renault so we decided to dive deeper with renderings and all the available information up to this point.

The fully electric model will complement Renault’s commercial vehicle range sitting below the slightly larger Kangoo E-TECH. It is expected to share the CMF-BEV platform and many other components with its SUV sibling, most likely including several body panels and parts of the interior. The front end will be identical, with a covered grille housing retro-inspired LED lights and Renault’s new emblem.

The exclusive rendering created for Carscoops by Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien sheds more light on the design of the upcoming LCV, based on Renault’s official teaser of its silhouette.

Unlike modern light commercial vehicles which have integrated the rear cargo space in an aerodynamic outer shape, the Renault 4 Van will follow the lines of its distant ancestor. The bump on the roof had the advantage of increasing cargo space, even though it does create more drag, which is not ideal for efficiency. However, Renault designers seem to prioritize style and practicality over the maximum possible range in this specific model, since its use will be often limited within cities.

The old 4 Fourgonette had the unconventional “‘giraffon” rear hatch with the main door opening sideways and a small part opening upwards. We don’t know if this feature will be inherited by the new model, but it’s likely that Renault will opt for a set of “barn doors” which is the most common solution in panel vans nowadays. It is also likely that the R4 van will maintain the ground clearance and the plastic cladding of the SUV since those features come in handy for professionals and look like the perfect match for the commercial vehicle’s unpainted bumpers offering a purposeful look.

Renault Group Design director, Laurence van den Acker, has admitted that the R5 and the mechanically related by slightly larger R4 in both SUV and Van forms will “tell stories from the past”, inheriting a separate design language from the rest of the French brand’s range, similar to what Ford is doing with the Mustang and Bronco nameplates.

In terms of underpinnings, Renault has confirmed that the panel van will be based on the CMF-BEV architecture. The flat floor of the electric platform will be ideal for the interior layout making use of all the available space behind the front seats for cargo.

The underfloor battery pack will feature nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMW) technology, bringing the cost of the EV closer to ICE-powered vehicles. The batteries will be produced in France through Renault Group’s latest partnerships. The WLTP range of CMF-BEV based models will be up to 400 km (249 miles), although probably lower for the panel van. As for the powertrain, we expect front-mounted electric motors similar to the ones on the Renault 5 prototype.

The stylish van bearing the R4 name is rumored to debut in 2025, alongside its SUV sibling. By then, Renault will have a range of 10 new electric models, with the goal of achieving a 90 percent electric sales mix in Europe by 2030 across the entire Renault Group.

Renault 4L Electric Concept Inspired By Chic Hotels Celebrates The Model’s 60th Anniversary

October 23, 2021 admin

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Renault 4, of which more than 8 million were sold over 30 years, the automaker turned to French designer Mathieu Lehanneur to reinterpret the car. And what he delivered is a fully electric concept inspired by chic hotels.

The Suite N°4 concept is based on the Renault 4L but trades in the rear body panels for polycarbonate windows to offer passengers plenty of light. The roof, meanwhile, is covered in transparent solar panels to help charge the fully electric drivetrain that replaces the standard engine.

To reflect the fact that it’s now electric, the model’s traditional grille has been replaced by a polished aluminum sheet to give the car a fluid appearance. The paint, on the other hand, is designed to look more solid. Coated in three layers, it’s supposed to look like concrete, a nod to the design trends in modern architecture.

Inside, fabrics have been used to make the interior feel warm. The front seats and dashboard are covered in yellow velvet, while the back seats are finished in a thick, ribbed, chenille fabric to make them feel more robust.

The trunk has also undergone a big transformation, as it features a natural fiber floor covering and a wooden drawer that can be removed to provide sheltered seating when the hatch is open. According to Renault, all the materials were provided by high-end Parisian furniture makers.

“I wanted to merge the worlds of cars and architecture to create an open-air hotel room,” says Lehanneur. “Even better than the finest palatial suite, the car is exactly where you want it to be, whether that’s by the sea, in the middle of a field, or driving around the city you’ve always dreamed of.”

Those interested in getting a glimpse of the oncept can check it out this weekend when it will be on display at the Maison & Objet exhibition in Paris. It will then join the automaker’s collection at Atelier Renault starting in November.

PHOTO GALLERY

more photos…

Envision AESC And Verkor Will Supply Batteries To Renault Group

June 28, 2021 admin

Renault Group announced its collaboration with Chinese company Envision AESC and French start-up Verkor to build batteries for its future electric vehicle range. The report comes three days after Renault’s partnership with Franco-Italian electronics company STMicroeletronics for the development of microchips for electric and hybrid models.

Autonews Europe reports that Envision AESC will invest up to €2 billion ($2.4 billion) for its new battery plant in Douai, France, creating 2,500 jobs by 2030. The factory will start with a capacity of 9 kWh, enough to produce batteries for the Renault 5 and other small electric models, increasing to 24 gWh by 2030.

Lei Zhang, CEO of Envision AESC, told Bloomberg that he is also in talks with other automakers for battery deals and that he has high expectations for future growth. This would allow the Chinese company to realize the French plant’s 43 gWh full potential by the end of the decade (according to the building permit).

For those who haven’t been following the company, AESC (Automotive Energy Supply Corporation) was established in 2007 as a joint venture between Nissan, NEC, and Tokin Corporation, becoming the world’s second-largest battery manufacturer for electric vehicles behind Panasonic in 2014. Since 2018, Nissan has sold AESC in Envision Group retaining a 25% stake so it is no coincidence that Renault Group made this deal.

As for Verkor, the French start-up will help in developing and manufacturing high-performance batteries for larger and more premium models including Alpine’s upcoming fully electric range. In return, Renault will buy a 20% stake. Verkor is planning to build a factory in 2023 with 10 gWh of its 16 gWh initial output reserved for Renault. By 2030, Verkor’s plant will have reached 50 gWh capacity, with 20 gWh for Renault.

Renault said in a statement that the partnerships “will create nearly 4,500 direct jobs in France by 2030, while developing a robust battery manufacturing ecosystem in the heart of Europe”. The French company plans on a total annual production of 400,000 electric cars in its Douai, Maubeuge, and Ruitz factories combined. The French state – Renault’s major shareholder – will contribute with an aid of around €200 million to the deal.

Setting aside the collaboration with two new suppliers, LG Energy Solution will keep supplying batteries for the current generation Renault Zoe and the upcoming Renault Megane E-Tech electric crossover.

Renault Group is not the only automaker with a solid plan for the future of battery supplies in the wake of the electric era. Volkswagen, Porsche, and Volvo will produce their own batteries, while Stellantis has signed a deal Total for the Automotive Cell Company – a joint venture that Renault is also interested in taking a part in.