Have you ever wondered how Renault, a storied French car manufacturer, has been navigating the vast and competitive automotive market in China? Let’s take a closer look at Renault’s top factories in China, exploring their history, capabilities, and the strategies that have shaped their presence in this global automotive hub.
GROUPE RENAULT AND JMCG OFFICIALLY ESTABLISH …
Renault building R&D team in China to develop EVs for …
Product Details: Renault is establishing an EV research and development team in Shanghai to develop electric vehicles (EVs) specifically for the European market. The team aims to begin mass production of a new EV by late 2025. This new car will be manufactured and sold only in Europe, leveraging China’s extensive EV supply chain and innovation. Renault is also collaborating with Chinese partners to reduce development lead time and costs, such as working on an electric version of the Twingo with Chinese assistance.
Pros:
– Access to China’s extensive EV supply chain and innovation
– Reduced development lead time and costs through collaboration with Chinese partn…
– Ability to match the production speed of competitive Chinese EV makers
– Utilization of Geely’s CMA platform for vehicle development
Cons:
– Limited market presence in China, which may not provide direct market feedback f…
– Dependence on Chinese partners and supply chains, which could pose risks in case…
Major milestones in Renault’s history in China
Product Details: Renault entered the Chinese market in the mid-1990s, focusing on the manufacture of high-end Trafic Minibus vehicles through the Sanjiang Renault Automotive Company (SRAC) joint venture. Between 1995 and 2003, Renault manufactured 6,018 Trafic Minibus vehicles at the Xiaogan plant, targeting VIP travel for public authorities and hotels. However, the market demand shifted towards private companies and individuals, making the product less relevant. In 1999, Renault began importing passenger cars and developed a sales network, becoming the first French manufacturer to import vehicles into China.
Pros:
– Established a joint venture with China Sanjiang Space Group to manufacture high-…
– Became the first French manufacturer to import passenger cars into China.
– Saw significant sales growth in China, with a 200.3% increase in sales from 2017…
Cons:
– The joint venture product did not correspond to the changing market demand, lead…
– Faced challenges such as unfavourable exchange rates, an ageing range, increased…
– The industrial facilities of the SRAC joint venture were shut down but maintaine…
Renault to develop EVs for Europe in China, setting R&D …
Product Details: Renault is setting up an EV research and development team in Shanghai to develop a new electric vehicle (EV) for the European market. The vehicle is planned to begin mass production by late 2025 and will be manufactured and sold only in Europe. This EV will be developed in collaboration with Chinese partners to leverage China’s extensive EV supply chain. The development process aims to reduce lead time and costs by working with local Chinese expertise.
Pros:
– Utilizes China’s extensive EV supply chain to reduce development lead time and c…
– Leverages local Chinese expertise in EV technology.
– Aims to match the production speed of competitive Chinese EV makers.
Cons:
– The vehicle will not be launched in the Chinese domestic market.
– Dependence on Chinese partners and supply chains could introduce logistical comp…
Renault talks to China’s Li Auto and Xiaomi on tech …
Product Details: Renault is engaging in discussions with China’s Li Auto and Xiaomi to explore potential collaboration on electric and intelligent vehicle technologies. These talks were held at Auto China 2024 and involve Renault’s CEO Luca de Meo and key industry leaders. The collaboration aims to leverage advancements in EV and intelligent vehicle technologies, building on Renault’s existing partnerships with companies like Geely and Dongfeng.
Pros:
– Access to advanced EV and intelligent vehicle technologies from Chinese firms.
– Enhanced innovation through collaborations with industry newcomers like Li Auto…
– Balancing market interests amidst tensions between Europe and China by learning…
– Potential to shape the future of intelligent mobility globally.
Cons:
– Challenges due to ongoing tensions between Europe and China, including investiga…
– Potential risks associated with European protectionism and its impact on collabo…
Renault Boss Calls for European Industrial Auto Strategy to …
Product Details: The article discusses Renault CEO Luca de Meo’s call for a European industrial auto strategy to compete with subsidized Chinese battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). De Meo advocates for a coherent industrial strategy to help European automakers, emphasizing the need for a collective approach to deal with unfairly subsidized Chinese automotive products. He defends the EU’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese BEVs, highlighting that these tariffs are fair and based on WTO rules.
Pros:
– A coherent European industrial strategy could help legacy automakers compete wit…
– The EU’s tariffs on subsidized Chinese BEVs are seen as fair and professional, r…
– A collective strategy could foster cooperation among European automakers, simila…
Cons:
– Tariffs alone may not be sufficient to ensure long-term competitiveness against…
– The current regulatory environment in Europe, with stringent safety and emission…
– European automakers face significant challenges in decarbonizing while adapting…
Renault and Geely aim to conquer the world with the new …
Product Details: The joint venture between Renault and Geely aims to create a new powertrain technology company. This company will have 17 engine manufacturing facilities and 5 R&D centers across three continents, employing around 19,000 people. It targets an annual production capacity of up to five million internal combustion, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid engines and transmissions. The company will supply powertrains to multiple brands including Renault Group, Geely Auto, Volvo Cars, Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors Company, and PUNCH Torino. The operational centers will be in Madrid for Renault and Hangzhou Bay for Geely, with an executive team headquartered in the UK. The joint
venture plans to offer solutions for 80% of the global ICE and hybrid market and will be open to future partnerships[3].
Pros:
– The new company will have a significant global footprint, covering 80% of the gl…
– It will provide end-to-end powertrain solutions to multiple OEMs and welcome new…
– The joint venture will leverage the technological expertise and brand portfolios…
– Aramco’s potential investment will support research and development in synthetic…
Cons:
– The completion of the transaction is subject to approval from relevant antitrust…
– The joint venture’s success depends on the integration of operations and intelle…
– The market demand for hybrid and ICE powertrains may evolve rapidly, requiring t…
Renault Sales Figures – China Market – Good Car Bad Car
Product Details: Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company (DRAC) was a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Renault, established in 2013 to produce and sell Renault-badged vehicles in China. The venture emerged from the previous Sanjiang Renault partnership. The Dongfeng Renault plant, located in Wuhan, started production in February 2016 with an estimated output of up to 150,000 vehicles per year. The focus was on sport utility vehicles (SUVs) such as the Renault Koleos, Kadjar, City K-ZE, and Captur. The venture also included an engine workshop and a research and development centre.
Pros:
– Strategic partnership leveraging the strengths of both Dongfeng and Renault.
– Access to the large and growing Chinese automotive market.
– Production of popular SUV models like Koleos, Kadjar, and Captur.
– Inclusion of an engine workshop and a research and development centre.
Cons:
– Poor sales performance, with only 18,607 cars sold in 2019 and an operating loss…
– Failure to achieve expected market penetration, leading to Renault’s decision to…
– Dissolution of the Dongfeng Renault venture in August 2020.
Renault and Geely join in hybrid and combustion venture
Groupe Renault opens a new design center in Shanghai
Product Details: Groupe Renault has opened a new design center in Shanghai, which is the group’s seventh design center worldwide. The Renault Design Center Shanghai aims to imagine and design future Groupe Renault models that directly address the expectations of Chinese customers. The center will cover all automotive design sectors, including exterior and interior design, colors and materials, UX design, and UI design. It will draw creativity from Shanghai’s leading edge in technologies for connected, innovative, and electric mobility solutions. The center plans to hire around 20 local designers to anticipate Chinese customer expectations and contribute to both local and global Groupe
Renault projects.
Pros:
– Strategically located in Shanghai, the heart of China’s bustling new car economy…
– Focus on developing connected, innovative, and electric mobility solutions tailo…
– Contributes to Groupe Renault’s global projects while supporting the company’s e…
– Multicultural and creative approach with designers from 32 nationalities.
– Ability to participate in in-house styling competitions for all Groupe Renault p…
Cons:
– The design center does not have full-size modeling capability in-house and relie…
– Physical building of production and concept cars is outsourced to local supplier…
Comparison Table
| Company | Product Details | Pros | Cons | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUPE RENAULT AND JMCG OFFICIALLY ESTABLISH … | media.renaultgroup.com | |||
| Renault building R&D team in China to develop EVs for … | Renault is establishing an EV research and development team in Shanghai to develop electric vehicles (EVs) specifically for the European market. The t… | – Access to China’s extensive EV supply chain and innovation – Reduced development lead time and costs through collaboration with Chinese partn… – A… | – Limited market presence in China, which may not provide direct market feedback f… – Dependence on Chinese partners and supply chains, which could… | cnevpost.com |
| Major milestones in Renault’s history in China | Renault entered the Chinese market in the mid-1990s, focusing on the manufacture of high-end Trafic Minibus vehicles through the Sanjiang Renault Auto… | – Established a joint venture with China Sanjiang Space Group to manufacture high-… – Became the first French manufacturer to import passenger cars… | – The joint venture product did not correspond to the changing market demand, lead… – Faced challenges such as unfavourable exchange rates, an agein… | www.renaultgroup.com |
| Renault to develop EVs for Europe in China, setting R&D … | Renault is setting up an EV research and development team in Shanghai to develop a new electric vehicle (EV) for the European market. The vehicle is p… | – Utilizes China’s extensive EV supply chain to reduce development lead time and c… – Leverages local Chinese expertise in EV technology. – Aims to… | – The vehicle will not be launched in the Chinese domestic market. – Dependence on Chinese partners and supply chains could introduce logistical comp…. | carnewschina.com |
| Renault talks to China’s Li Auto and Xiaomi on tech … | Renault is engaging in discussions with China’s Li Auto and Xiaomi to explore potential collaboration on electric and intelligent vehicle technologies… | – Access to advanced EV and intelligent vehicle technologies from Chinese firms. – Enhanced innovation through collaborations with industry newcomers… | – Challenges due to ongoing tensions between Europe and China, including investiga… – Potential risks associated with European protectionism and its… | www.reuters.com |
| Renault Boss Calls for European Industrial Auto Strategy to … | The article discusses Renault CEO Luca de Meo’s call for a European industrial auto strategy to compete with subsidized Chinese battery-electric vehic… | – A coherent European industrial strategy could help legacy automakers compete wit… – The EU’s tariffs on subsidized Chinese BEVs are seen as fair a… | – Tariffs alone may not be sufficient to ensure long-term competitiveness against… – The current regulatory environment in Europe, with stringent sa… | www.wardsauto.com |
| Renault and Geely aim to conquer the world with the new … | The joint venture between Renault and Geely aims to create a new powertrain technology company. This company will have 17 engine manufacturing facilit… | – The new company will have a significant global footprint, covering 80% of the gl… – It will provide end-to-end powertrain solutions to multiple OE… | – The completion of the transaction is subject to approval from relevant antitrust… – The joint venture’s success depends on the integration of oper… | www.fleeteurope.com |
| Renault Sales Figures – China Market – Good Car Bad Car | Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company (DRAC) was a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Renault, established in 2013 to produce and sell Renau… | – Strategic partnership leveraging the strengths of both Dongfeng and Renault. – Access to the large and growing Chinese automotive market. – Producti… | – Poor sales performance, with only 18,607 cars sold in 2019 and an operating loss… – Failure to achieve expected market penetration, leading to Ren… | www.goodcarbadcar.net |
| Renault and Geely join in hybrid and combustion venture | asia.nikkei.com | |||
| Groupe Renault opens a new design center in Shanghai | Groupe Renault has opened a new design center in Shanghai, which is the group’s seventh design center worldwide. The Renault Design Center Shanghai ai… | – Strategically located in Shanghai, the heart of China’s bustling new car economy… – Focus on developing connected, innovative, and electric mobili… | – The design center does not have full-size modeling capability in-house and relie… – Physical building of production and concept cars is outsourced… | media.renaultgroup.com |
