Hauts-de-France in pole position

for investment by Renault

Renault: the pioneer of electric vehicles

With its Japanese partner Nissan and under the initiative of its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, Renault has been one of the pioneers of electric vehicles. Within a few years, the company became a major European leader, as evidenced by 32,000 sales of its star model Zoé last year. The French brand also ranks number one in electric utility vehicles with the Kangoo, produced in Maubeuge (Hauts-de-France). To stay ahead of the fierce competition, Renault is choosing France for a massive €1 billion investment plan. Production sites in Hauts-de-France are at the forefront.

The Douai, Maubeuge and Ruitz sites

• The Douai factory was chosen to house the future electric platform of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. The northern location will therefore be the second largest production site for the group’s electric vehicles starting in 2021. It will also produce Renault’s battery cars other than the ZOE.
• The manufacturer is also planning investments in Maubeuge, for the production of the next generation of Kangoo utility vehicles, including the electric Kangoo ZE.
• In Ruitz, STA will produce new gearboxes for electric vehicles, starting in 2019.

The Drive The Future plan

This €1 billion investment is in addition to the €500,000 announced in late 2016, to modernise the French factories between 2017 and the end of 2019.

 “Our increased investments in France for electric vehicles will help improve our competitiveness and the attractiveness of our French industrial sites. As part of its Drive The Future strategic plan and with the Alliance, Renault is equipping itself with the means to maintain its leadership in the electric vehicle market and to continue developing new sustainable mobility solutions for all,” explains Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault.

Renault’s top five objectives for the Drive the Future strategic plan (2017-2022):

• more than €70 billion in turnover,
• more than 5 million vehicles sold (compared to 3.76 million vehicles in 2017), with twice as many sales outside of Europe,
• €18 billion investment in research and development,
• leadership in electric vehicles (8 electric models, 12 electrified models),
• 100% of connected vehicles in key markets and 15 autonomous Renault vehicles.

The Hauts-de-France Region is the top automotive region in France. Learn more about this sector. Do you have a business set-up or development project? Nord France Invest helps any company seeking to develop in the Hauts-de-France Region in order to drive momentum.  Contact us now. Source: La Voix du Nord, Le Point, Les Echos