Groupe Renault has created a new subsidiary called Elexent to help other companies find solutions for charging their fleets of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. A branch office in France is already operational.

The English city of Leeds has taken delivery of 122 Renault Kangoo Z.E. electric vans. The city will use 102 in its services and will make the remaining 20 available to local companies as part of a new test programme called EV Trials Scheme.

Renault Spain has changed the pricing model for the Zoe. The small battery-electric car is now only available there with battery purchase, the previous option for battery rental is no longer available. The Spanish are thus following a decision by Renault Great Britain.

Renault UK is offering new car buyers money off its range of electrified models, with up to £1,000 to switch to an all-electric New Zoe, or £500 towards the deposit on All-New Clio Hybrid and All-New Captur Plug-in models.

In Germany, Renault is increasing its manufacturer’s share for subsidising the purchase of its electric vehicles. From now on, private customers will receive a bonus of 10,000 euros when buying a new Zoe or Kangoo Z.E. But the discount has a catch.

The Irish city of Cork has put 76 electric vehicles into operation to replace internal combustion engines. Renault Kangoo Z.E., Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona are used by the city’s road and housing maintenance, park management and waste disposal staff.

Renault’s fully electric Kangoo Z.E. is getting a new derivative vehicle for the UK market – the Business+ version of the Kangoo is bringing a “host of updates” regarding comfort and convenience.

After alliance partner Nissan, Renault has also presented its restructuring program. The savings plan provides for the elimination of two billion euros in fixed costs. The strategy includes cuts in personnel.

Nissan has presented its comprehensive renovation package. Europe is no longer considered a core market. The Barcelona plant will be closed while the plant in Sunderland is to continue to operate with alliance partner Renault.

Renault UK has confirmed full specifications of new E-TECH versions of the new Captur Plug-in Hybrid and Clio Hybrid. UK prices start from £19,595 for the Clio Hybrid and £30,495 for the Captur Plug-in Hybrid.

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi manufacturing alliance is restructuring its cooperation. The guiding principle of the cooperation is the so-called ‘leader-follower’ principle for regions, vehicles and technologies in order to achieve greater efficiency and competitiveness in these areas.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a massive increase in support for the French car industry. The head of state is thus reacting to the crisis at PSA and Renault – the main reason being the slump in sales due to the Corona crisis.

Renault is now officially launching a fleet of 500 electric Zoe in Paris as part of the Zity e-car sharing service. Renault already presented the car-sharing offer at the end of February, but due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the service was temporarily suspended.

Nissan reportedly wants to withdraw from Europe and instead focus more on its main markets: the USA, China and Japan. The news comes through sources of Reuters and also includes repercussions on the alliance’s e-mobility offering.

A Japanese news site claims that Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi have a plan that will expand their alliance. In May, the three companies plan to start jointly developing electric vehicles and automated driving technologies.

Renault has adjusted its strategy for China and will in future concentrate fully on electric vehicles and light commercial vehicles. This includes the French company withdrawing from its joint venture with Dongfeng through which they had built conventional ICEs and transferring its shares in DRAC to Dongfeng.

Renault’s planned all-electric compact SUV based on the new CMF-EV electric vehicle platform should be ready for spring 2021. A new media report also alleges that Renault designated the factory to build the new electric car already as well.

Renault is pondering to make 300 rental Zoe available free of charge for medical personnel in France in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The electric cars could be taken from the standing fleet of the Zity car-sharing service.

Following a successful ‘try before you buy‘ loan scheme for electric vehicles in Nottingham, DriveElectric the offer could “act as a blueprint for cities across the UK”.

First carmakers announce closures of factories in Europe due to the Coronavirus crisis unfolding on the continent. PSA will lockdown all vehicle production plants in Europe by 27 March and the French carmaker is not the only one.

As the British government cuts the Plug-in Car Grants, first carmakers react. Renault UK will top-up the new PiCG of £3,000 by £500 for all Zoe orders placed before 31 March 2020.

Car-sharing in Europe is going electric as city regulators increasingly inhibit polluting vehicles and an ever-increasing range of electric car models becomes available. We analyse the industry developments.

Renault released a preview of the first electric model of the Dacia brand with the show car Dacia Spring. As expected, this is a modification of the Renault City K-ZE that is being offered in China at competitive prices.

Renault’s new model study should show the way of future developments with the new CMF-EV platform. The Morphoz is distinguished through an interesting body extension, inductive charging capabilities and level 3 autonomous driving functions.

Renault and Ferrovial will bring their electric car-sharing Zity, which was launched in Madrid in 2017, to Paris in March. The launch on the Seine will take place with 500 Renault Zoe, which should replace Renault’s previous Moov’in fleet. In the coming years, the electric car-sharing service is to be extended to other European cities.

Renault has introduced the Twingo Z.E. and announced that sales are scheduled to launch at the end of this year. The battery-electric version of the small car will be equipped with an electric motor with 60 kW output and a water-cooled battery pack with a capacity of 21 kWh.

Renault has now officially confirmed that the first electric model from its Romanian subsidiary Dacia will come out within the next two years. There are many indications that this will be the modified version of the Renault City K-ZE electric compact car offered in China for the European market.

Renault has presented the revised Mégane, which will be available for the first time from summer 2020 with the plug-in hybrid drive called E-Tech. Although the PHEV has two electric motors, it has a relatively small battery.

Renault is planning to launch the all-electric Twingo Z.E. before the end of this year, two years earlier than was speculated. The French manufacturer also announced the new hybrid models and its sales figures for 2019.

Denmark’s all-electric car-sharing provider GreenMobility is expanding into Belgium with a new operating licence in Antwerp. The company wants to set up a joint venture with local partners, that is to run a fleet of up to 350 e-cars.