Renault Establishes EV HQ in France

Renault will launch its first electric vehicles during the course of this year and, although most of us have already seen the models, it will definitely be one of the major moments of the automotive industry. And the French executives really know that, so everything has to be perfect before the first EV wearing a Renault badge will meet the asphalt.

Well, the company has just announced that France will from now on serve as a production base for future EVs, while the rest of the models will be produced elsewhere.

Where exactly? In other emerging markets where the company could benefit from lower labor costs and increased production. According to Automotive News Europe, Renault will invest a total of 5.7 billion euros by 2013 in production plants, with a 40 percent share of the whole Renault production to undergo in French facilities. Brazil, India and Russia are also on track to receive big production increases.

And that's not all. Renault intends to build 80 percent of its all electric vehicles in France by 2015, including the ZOE, which will be assembled in Flins, and the Kangoo ZE that will see daylight in Maubeuge. According to Renault's earlier announcement however, the two-seat Twizy EV will be built in Valladolid, Spain.

"With its partner Nissan it aims to become the leader in zero-emission mobility, namely the first automaker to sell a complete range of electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles at an affordable price for the greatest number. This year will be a decisive chapter in Renault history with the launch of three electric models, Fluence Z.E., Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy, followed by ZOE in 2012," Renault mentioned in the recently released six-year plan.