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Renault Previews Electric Range And Details EV Manufacturing Strategy

During the “Renault eWays Electro Pop” event, the French company gave away more information on its electrification strategy towards a 90% electric range for the whole Renault Group by 2030.

The announcements were not limited to the upcoming electric models but also included information about the platforms and the new factories to be built in France through partnerships.

Starting with the product launches, Renault announced 10 battery-electric vehicles by 2025. The Renault 5 supermini, the Renault 4ever SUV, and the equivalent LCV will be based on the CMF-BEV platform allowing for a WLTP range of up to 400 km (249 miles). As you guessed from the name, the electric CMF-BEV will be an evolved version of the CMF-B currently underpinning conventional B-Segment models of the group.

Thanks to the shared components, the interchangeability of the batteries, and the low-cost 100 kW powertrain, the upcoming Renault 5 will be 33% cheaper compared to the current generation Zoe electric supermini, making electric cars more affordable to the masses. For a good measure, the Renault Zoe starts from €32,500 (about $38,500 at today’s rates) in France, but the base price drops to €23,000 (~ $27,300) after the ecological and conversion bonuses. This means the Renault 5 could be more than €10,000 ($11,900) cheaper, bringing it close to the price level of similarly-sized conventional cars like the Renault Clio which starts from €15,900 (around $19,000).

Moving upwards in the range the production version of the MéganE electric crossover will launch in 2022 with a larger and yet-unnamed electric SUV following later on. Both of those models will be based on the CMF-EV architecture developed for Renault Group’s C-Segment and D-Segment cars. Models based on this architecture will offer a WLTP range of up to 580 km (360 miles). They will also have roomy cabins, low center of gravity, ideal weight distribution, quick steering ratio, and multi-link rear suspension. The CMF-EV will be also used by other brands of the alliance, representing the production of 700,000 units by 2025.

By 2025, over 65% of Renault models will be either electric or hybrid, and by 2030 up to 90% of the range will be battery-electric. Finally, starting from 2024, the Alpine performance brand will get its own three-model all-electric range consisting of a sportscar, a hot hatch, and a grand tourer.

Setting aside the new models, the event also included a detailed presentation of the “Renault ElectriCity” ecosystem in Northern France. Three factories on Douai, Maubeuge, and Ruitz, will reach an annual production of 400,000 electric vehicles by 2025.

The electric powertrains will be built by Renault’s own MegaFactory in Normandy, batteries will be manufactured in Envision AESC’s gigafactory in Douai starting from 2024, while French start-up Verkor will help in developing a high-performance and sustainable battery for Renault and Alpine models by 2022 to be produced in a new gigafactory starting from 2026.

By 2030, a total of 1 million units of NMC (Nickel, Manganese & Cobalt) batteries will be built for all brands of the group. Renault wants to bring costs down by 60% at pack level in less than ten years with a target of under 100 dollars/kWh by 2025. This cost could reach even lower with the use of solid-state batteries, aiming for under 80 dollars/kWh by 2030.

French Start-up Whylot will undertake the development of an “innovative automotive axial flux e-motor” to be produced on large scale from 2025. This motor will allow a 5% cost reduction to hybrid powertrains and save up to 2.5 g CO2 on a small or medium-sized car. In the future, Renault Group will build a new kind of a e-powertrain integrating the e-motor, reducer, and power electronics in a smaller package (-45% in volume). This will bring a 30% cost reduction in cost, 45% less wasted energy, and up to 20 km (12.4 miles) of added range.

Finally, the Mobilize brand will focus on “generating added value throughout the battery lifecycle” offering a residual value of up to €500 per battery to used EVs and a potential benefit of up to €400 per year through Vehicle-to-grid technologies.

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2022 Renault Kadjar Will Be Nissan Rogue Sport’s European Cousin

The upcoming Renault Kadjar has been caught testing again, with more spy shots showing it in its camouflaged glory.

Like the outgoing car, the next generation will be based on the Nissan Rogue Sport, also known as the Qashqai in Europe. Both the Qashqai and Kadjar have been known to be competent crossovers that manage to do a good job of staying reasonably individual, and Renault is keen to continue this trend.

The next-gen Kadjar wears different wheels than the prototypes that were previously snapped during winter testing and continues to sport ample masking. What we can see, though, are slim headlights, in line with Renault’s current design direction. There’s also a large grille up front, which is expected to house Renault’s revised badge.

Moving rearward, the waistline and glasshouse are where we start to see distinct similarities with the Kadjar’s Rouge Sport cousin. However, the lower half appears to sport a different style than the Nissan, with sharper lines cutting through the camo.

See: What The 2022 Renault Kadjar Will Look Like And Everything Else We Know

The Kadjar is based on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-C/D platform, which will support electrification, and may launch with the same 1.3 and 1.5-liter engines found in the Qashqai. This would certainly be in line with efforts to increase synergy between the brands within the Alliance. However, another report claimed that Renault might introduce two power units of its own, including a self-charging hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Whatever the case might be, we don’t expect a full EV at launch, while diesel engines might be axed.

The upcoming Kadjar is also expected to be bigger than the model it replaces and will take a more upmarket approach than the outgoing SUV.

We’re expecting a reveal in 2022 at the earliest, with an on-sale date likely in Q2 2022. Pricing is yet to be announced, but expect it to be slightly more expensive than the outgoing model.

Note: The rendering is an independent, speculative illustration made by Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien and is neither related nor endorsed by Renault

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Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops

2021 Renault Arkana Coupe Crossover UK Pricing Announced, Starts At £25,300

The 2021 Renault Arkana can now be pre-ordered in the United Kingdom, where the coupe crossover is available in three trim levels, with an all-hybrid powertrain family.

Sitting at the lower end of the range is the Arkana Iconic. It starts at £25,300 ($35,824) and features standard 17-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors at both ends, LED headlights with dusk-sensing function, automatic windscreen wipers, a 7-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4.2-inch TFT driver information display, automatic air-con, and a generous amount of safety gear.

Also Read: Renault Arkana Becomes The Samsung XM3, Gets Tech Upgrades For Its Korean Debut

The Arkana S Edition is the mid-spec level and comes from £27,600 ($39,081). Paying the premium over the entry-level model will get customers 18-inch wheels, a 9.3-inch infotainment system with traffic information and Google search, and a 7-inch driver information display. Standard equipment also includes a leather wrapped steering wheel, extra tinted rear windows, eight ambient lighting colors, three driving modes, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and black cloth and synthetic leather upholstery.

Bringing sportier accents on the outside, glossy black side mirror caps and lower window trim, leather and suede-effect front sports seats with leather stitching, perforated leather on the steering wheel, carbon-effect accents, black roof lining, heated front seats and steering wheel, aluminum pedals, frameless rearview mirror and hands-free parking, the R.S. Line is the range-topping model. Pricing starts at £29,900 ($42,337).

The powertrain range consists of two hybridized petrol units. The TCe 140 features micro-hybrid technology and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It combines a 1.3-liter engine with a 12-volt starter generator, offers 140 PS (138 HP / 103 kW) and 260 Nm (192 lb-ft), and enables a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 9.8 seconds. The E-Tech hybrid brings a 1.6-liter engine, two small electric motors and a 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, and develops 145 PS (143 HP / 107 kW), as well as 148 Nm (109 lb-ft) of torque from the petrol mill and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) from the electric motors.

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Renault’s Restructuring Plan Calls For 15,000 Layoffs Worldwide, 17.5% Lower Production Capacity

Yesterday Nissan revealed its restructuring plan and today it is Renault’s turn to do the same.

Renault Group’s main objective is to reduce fixed costs by more than €2 billion ($2.22 billion) over the next three years to restore its competitiveness and “ensure its long-term development within the framework of the Alliance.”

Achieving savings of this magnitude will be possible by reducing the workforce, the production output and the diversity of components within vehicles. More specifically, Renault plans to lay off just under 15,000 employees worldwide and reduce its production capacity to 3.3 million in 2024 from 4 million in 2019.

Renault plans a reconversion for the Dieppe plant after production of the Alpine A110 ends

The company said the workforce adjustment project would be based on retraining measures, internal mobility and voluntary departures. Spread over three years, it would concern nearly 4,600 posts in France and more than 10,000 other positions in the rest of the world. In France, the Renault Group will be organized around strategic business areas with a promising future: electric vehicles, LCVs, the circular economy and high value-added innovation.

At the heart of the Group’s recovery will be three major regional centers of excellence based in France. The Douai and Maubeuge plants will focus on EVs and LCVs, respectively, while the Flins and Guyancourt facilities will be reorganized. As for the Dieppe plant, home to the Alpine A110, Renault plans a reconversion after production of the sports car ends. Sadly, this likely means the mid-engined A110 will not have a successor. The carmaker will also launch a strategic review regarding the Fonderie de Bretagne plant.

The company also said it would suspend planned capacity increases in Romania and Morocco, as well as adapt its production capacities in Russia.

Plans to expand production capacity at the Dacia plants in Mioveni, Romania and Tangiers, Morocco have been suspended

On the product side of things, Renault plans to improve efficiency and reduce engineering costs by leveraging the assets of the Alliance. The company will reduce component diversity, increase standardization and pursue Leader – Follower programs within the Alliance.

It will also concentrate the development of strategic technologies with high added value in the engineering sites of Île-de-France (the region surrounding Paris). This involves the optimization of the use R&D centers abroad and subcontracting.

According to Renault, the estimated cost of implementing the transformation plan is around €1.2 billion ($1.33 billion). Renault is offering further details on its transformation plan during a live press conference this morning you can watch at this link.

The Flins plant near Paris could switch from building cars to recycling activities