Renault apparently set to acquire Flexis in full

The French daily newspaper Le Monde reported this development. The report states that relations among the three shareholders have deteriorated so severely since the appointment of François Provost as CEO of the Renault Group in mid-2025 that Flexis’s management sought intervention from the Commercial Court of Nanterre and applied for the appointment of a mediator.

However, according to the newspaper’s sources, the three parties have since developed a shared vision for the future: Renault intends to acquire all shares of Flexis. The official conclusion of the negotiations is expected to be announced on 19 February, as reported by Le Monde. The price at which François Provost negotiated the exit of his partners remains unknown at this stage. A Renault spokesperson declined to comment on the Le Monde report when approached by the news agency Reuters, stating only that discussions are ongoing and that relations with Flexis and its shareholders remain positive.

Flexis was founded in early 2024 as a 50:50 joint venture between the Renault Group and the Volvo Group. A few months later, the Marseille-based shipping and logistics company CMA CGM joined as a third partner. Since then, the two commercial vehicle manufacturers have each held 45% of the joint venture, while CMA CGM owns the remaining 10%. The purpose of the new entity has always been to develop and produce highly connected battery-electric vans based on a software-driven 800-volt platform.

It remains unclear how Flexis will be integrated into the Renault Group

Publicly, the three shareholders initially spoke of creating the ‘Tesla of commercial vehicles’—essentially, battery-electric vans designed around a central computer. Flexis was not only intended to be a manufacturer but also to offer a range of services. At the recent Solutrans trade fair in Lyon, for example, Flexis presented a new fleet management solution. The first battery-electric vans are scheduled to launch at the end of 2026.

Flexis has rapidly grown to around 150 employees. According to Le Monde, the joint venture, led by Philippe Divry, remains uncertain about how it will be integrated into the Renault Group following the full takeover. What is clear, however, is that Flexis works closely with Renault’s battery-electric vehicle division, Ampere—a subsidiary founded by Luca de Meo—which is also set to be reintegrated into the group under François Provost. There is evidently movement within the group. The commercial vehicle market is particularly critical for Renault: according to Le Monde, the group held a 28.7% market share in France last year, behind Stellantis (38.2%).

Three battery-electric vans in the pipeline

Regarding model plans, it has been known since early 2025 that Flexis is has planned three models on the so-called EV-only skateboard platform: the Trafic, Goélette, and Estafette. The launch will be marked by the Trafic E-Tech, which the French manufacturer unveiled in November at Solutrans. All three models share an 800-volt architecture, enabling the vehicles to charge from 15 to 80% in less than twenty minutes. The Trafic E-Tech will be produced in the coastal town of Sandouville in northern France.

Regarding the full takeover, Le Monde reports that the transaction is expected to include a write-down of assets. Originally, Renault and Volvo had each committed to investing €300 million in the joint venture over three years, while CMA CGM pledged €120 million from its decarbonisation investment fund and also intended to act as a customer for the vans.

As recently as December 2025, Flexis confirmed that it would continue to pursue its roadmap. At that time, the company had already signed 40 letters of intent with potential customers.

lemonde.fr (in French), reuters.com