Renault boss Luca de Meo presented in September 2020 the ‘Renaulution’ idea. Now it’s 2024, and time for the last, particularly arduous realisation: de Meo must follow the implementation of five projects in parallel which, taken end to end, must change the appearance of the Group. the goal: to share with partners the colossal development costs of the technological transition underway in the automobile industry, which Renault cannot bear alone due to its small size on the market.
• Ampere
On the first scope of the partition is the listing on the stock market of the software and electrification sector, called ‘Ampere’ (which already has Qualcomm, Nissan and Mitsubishi in the capital). If market conditions permit. The boss said in September that he was hoping for nearly €10bn. To sell his business, Luca de Meo is dangling the crucial launch of the battery-powered city car, the R5, this year. He also revealed the arrival, in 2026, of an all-electric Twingo. A project that would interest Volkswagen. Enough to share, here again, the development costs in a segment, small city cars, with compressed margins.
• Alpine
Renault is toying with the idea of also listing part of Alpine, their brand specializing in high-end sports cars, with a factory in Dieppe. However, if the expected valuation is not there, the operation will not take place. “We are not crazy,” Luca de Meo wanted to reassure the press at the end of 2023.
• Horse
The Renault Group must put their thermal engine activity, Horse, up. Oil giant Saudi Aramco must complete their acquisition of capital at the start of the year—enough to finally give a value to this entity.
• The Future is Neutral
The CEO should also announce in the first half of the year the arrival of new partners in his third special purpose entity, The Future is Neutral (in addition to Nissan). It specialises in the circular economy. The new expected industrialist would precisely be a specialist in battery recycling, Luca de Meo suggested in December. Another partnership to put to music, the one signed with Volvo Trucks to develop future utility vehicles for the diamond brand, a traditional cash cow for manufacturers.
• International
In parallel with these four projects, Renault Group also wants to relaunch internationally, with the upcoming launch of eight models outside Europe. Could they maybe return to North America, even? Time will tell!
