Electric vehicles in Hauts-de-France
France’s automotive industry has leapt into the promising sustainable mobility market, and in the past decade the country has seen robust growth powered by an entirely new generation of vehicles—electric and hybrids, both chargeable and non-rechargeable. The trend has been a bonanza for Hauts-de-France, which leads the nation in production of vehicles and gearboxes. The regional industry includes no fewer than 7 manufacturing sites, and the entire automotive ecosystem is making the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Electric vehicles in Hauts-de-France
France’s automotive industry has leapt into the promising sustainable mobility market, and in the past decade the country has seen robust growth powered by an entirely new generation of vehicles—electric and hybrids, both chargeable and non-rechargeable. The trend has been a bonanza for Hauts-de-France, which leads the nation in production of vehicles and gearboxes. The regional industry includes no fewer than 7 manufacturing sites, and the entire automotive ecosystem is making the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Massive investment in electric vehicles
For years now, automakers in our region have invested in electric vehicles.
Leading electric vehicle developers in Hauts-de-France
Our region’s automotive ecosystem is hard at work on electric vehicles.
Renault, Maubeuge
At its Maubeuge Plant, Renault ElectriCity Group has invested €450 million in the next generation of Renault Kangoos, including an electric model.
Peugeot, Valenciennes
The factory makes Stellantis gearboxes, and since January 2019 has produced a reduction gear for Stellantis electric vehicles starting from the 2020 model year.
Peugeot, Douvrin
Française de Mécanique in Douvrin is the only facility that manufactures Stellantis’ EP PHEV engine, set for production of 350,000 units annually.
Peugeot, Hordain
Stellantis makes small commercial vehicles at this site, which is also preparing to assemble the e-K Zéro, an all-electric compact van.
Renault, Douai
This plant is developing a new Renault-Nissan electric platform, which will be used to produce two new vehicles starting in 2021.
DBT, Brebières (near Douai)
DBT is the French leader in fast charging stations for electric vehicles.
Toyota
Toyota’s Onnaing plant has long been committed to hybrids, which now account for 60% of the 225,000 Yaris vehicles made by the facility each year. And since 2020 a new model—the Yaris Cross hybrid—has joined the line-up.
HAUTS-DE-FRANCE, A EUROPEAN GIGAVALLEY
Hauts-de-France: The ideal place for green mobility
Our region has the advantages you need to grow your business.
Hauts-de-France: A springboard for import / export
Our region is a location of choice. Lying in the center of the Paris-London-Brussels triangle, Hauts-de-France is a strategic crossroads for the continent’s wealthiest regions—Northern Europe, the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region and the Paris Region. Meanwhile, our coastline and access to leading European ports open the door to global trade. Put our strategic location to work for your business!
New policies benefit automakers and equipment manufacturers
The robust growth of France’s electric vehicle market is due in part to backing by the French State. For nearly a decade, it has adopted an array of environmental policies to support the industry and encourage automakers to produce low-carbon vehicles. These include:
- the Automotive Plan of 2013
- the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act of 2015
- the Finance Act of 2018
- the Automotive Stimulus Plan of 2020, in response to the Covid-19 crisis
These policies are designed to support industrialists that are prepared to:
- diversify into innovative products or processes;
- upgrade their production sites;
- step up the pace of digital transformation and create the industry of tomorrow;
- make their production sites more eco-friendly and contribute to the circular economy.
Meanwhile, the French State is also encouraging consumers to adopt new behaviors through policies such as:
- paying green rebates for electric and hybrid vehicles
- upgrading publicly owned fleets with green vehicles
- providing financial assistance for rollout of charging stations
Looking for a policy environment that supports electric vehicles? Choose Hauts-de-France!
Our regional authorities also support automotive industrials directly with customized benefit packages
Close-up: Research tax credit (CIR)
France’s Research Tax Credit program is open to all companies for R&D activities. It substantially reduces the cost of fundamental research and experimental development by allowing you to deduct qualifying expenses from your taxes.
The research tax credit rate is:
- 30% for research expenses up to €100 million
- 5% for expenses above this threshold
This program is extremely popular among companies in the auto industry.
Meet your future employees!
Putting the power of innovation behind electric vehicle development in Hauts-de-France
Our focus on global markets makes Hauts-de-France the ideal region for the mobility industry. We’re home to many professionals in research, development and partnership networks who are eager to strengthen the automotive industry. One key player is the Regional Association of Automotive Industry (ARIA). With nearly 200 members in the public and private sectors, ARIA makes companies more competitive, raises the sector’s profile and gives it more appeal.
Tap into the energy of this ecosystem and benefit from the innovation and growth that are unique to Hauts-de-France. You’ll also find many centers of excellence for research and R&D like these.
Transalley Technology Park: The perfect place to launch your projects
A center of excellence with a global focus, Transalley is a 34-ha technology park dedicated to sustainable mobility and transport—the catalyst for an ecosystem of growth and innovation.
Transalley provides a forum where companies, research laboratories and training programs can come together to innovate in a wide range of spaces tailored to their needs: a business incubator, a business accelerator, a business center, amenities and common areas including meeting rooms, coworking areas, an auditorium, a showroom, an immersion room, an outdoor test track and more. A team of experts is available on site to help project leaders, start-ups and companies achieve their goals.
Transalley is a resource center for growing your business. It’s located in the heart of an ecosystem with a wide range of mobility and transport players — and one of France’s most dynamic regions for the auto industry, rail and new mobilities, with ties to Hauts-de-France Polytechnic University. And it’s the only technology park in the mobility sector to be certified by the Hauts-de-France region as a Parc d’Innovation.
Institute for Sustainable Mobility and Transport
The Institute for Sustainable Mobility and Transport (IMTD) works closely with both Hauts-de-France Polytechnic University (UPHF) and Transalley Technology Park. The IMTD hosts symposia, seminars, presentations of papers and products, temporary and permanent exhibitions, conferences and more.
IMTD facilities include:
- A 400-sq m showroom for exhibitions on mobility and transport topics such as industry professions, innovation and attractiveness, organized with companies in the region
- A research showroom that surveys the progress of UPHF laboratory work in real time
- An auditorium with 200 retractable seats, projector and screen, microphones, interpreter booths and more
- Two modular meeting rooms with 25 seats each, projection equipment, microphones, a writable wall and more
- An immersion room: with 40 seats, a 7.20m x 2.80m screen, 3D/4K projector and tracking
- A Fablab to support your project from drawing board to production
- A dining area with a fully equipped kitchen and a patio
Gyrovia test and demonstration track
Located just a few meters from the IMTD, Gyrovia is available for training, research and development, and for showcasing new technologies, new vehicles and new lifestyles. This fully equipped, ultra-connected track safely simulates urban traffic scenarios to demonstrate and promote connected, automated, and autonomous vehicles.
CRITT M2A
CRITT M2A is an independent research and innovation center for automotive engines and acoustics. Located in Bruay-la-Buissière, west of Lens, the 10,000-sq m facility has become a powerful asset for the Hauts-de-France auto industry, with R&D testing services in four key areas: turbochargers, engines, acoustics and vibration, and—more recently—electric vehicles.
CRITT M2A is acknowledged for its expertise in France and beyond. It has attracted many prestigious partners in the public sector and academia, and has swiftly won international recognition as a specialist in testing batteries and electric engines and batteries.
One major project is C2E, a new test center supporting the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles by:
- anticipating and meeting critical auto industry needs, especially in the area of electric engines
- pooling skills and resources to make electric car industrials more competitive in the development phase
- bringing new skills and expertise to automotive industrials by providing a regional platform where they can collaborate
17 CNRS and university laboratories
News
- Tiamat, a French startup, has developed a sodium-ion battery and is now poised to scale it up, building on research into electrochemical energy storage by CNRS (the French National Center for Scientific Research) and CEA (the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission).
- Toyota manufactures the Yaris 4 hybrid at its Onnaing plant near Valenciennes
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