20231115_PR CMD Ampere VDEF_GB bis
Press ReleaseNovember 15, 2023
AMPERE: THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGER
Tech excellence and operational focus to democratize EV
Live conference on November 15 at 14:00 CET, available on www.renaultgroup.com
Boulogne-Billancourt, November 15th, 2023
Ampere, driving force of Renault Group’s transformation
An Electric Vehicles (EV) & software company, which designs, engineers, manufactures and markets electric passenger cars under the Renault brand in Europe
Successful carve-out accomplished on November 1st, 2023, making Ampere an autonomous company and the first European EV and software pure player
Ampere is fully dedicated to tackle the most important challenges of the automotive industry’s transformation: zero-emission and software development
Ampere consists of 11,000 employees, of which 35% are engineers
Robust assets for which the majority of investments has already been made: EV-native platforms, industrial ecosystem (EV & software value chains and manufacturing footprint) and appealing product line-up
A growth story thanks to cost advantage, complete product line-up, and tailored customer experience
Aiming to reach EV / ICE price parity ahead of competition thanks to a clear roadmap to 40% cost reduction by 2027/2028 between the 1st and the 2nd generation of C-segment electric vehicles
Product line-up of seven vehicles by 2031 at the heart of the European market: Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech, Renault 5, Renault 4, “Legend”, and two additional vehicles
Additional business (vehicles and software) with other brands and partners such as Alpine, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors
Competitive advantages beyond the product to offer a tailored EV customer journey: Renault brand awareness, distribution network, aftersales network, EV charging ecosystem and financing solutions
A story of technology excellence, innovation and partnerships
35% of engineers of which 1,800 leading software and system engineering talents to deliver tech innovations
Best-in-class technological solutions with OpenR Link, already embedded in Megane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech
Unique horizontal approach based on partnerships with Google & Qualcomm Technologies to save time and cost, reduce execution risk and provide customers with the best solutions on the market
1st Software-Defined-Vehicle (SDV) expected to be launched in 2026
Ready from Day 1, thanks to strong assets and Renault Group’s backing
ElectriCity, a geographically compact industrial ecosystem with high productivity and low carbon emissions
Unique ecosystemic approach to cover the full EV value chain with limited investments and technological agility through partnerships with the best players for battery and e-powertrain development
Structured and highly mutually beneficial relationship between Renault Group and Ampere
ESG native
Ranked #1 by Sustainalytics in the automotive sector1 and in the top 6th percentile of all companies globally with a score of 12.8
Ampere net zero company target by 2035 and ElectriCity by 2025
High standards in terms of human rights, transparency, and ethics within the company and throughout the supply chain
Independent and effective corporate governance, with 11 directors, experts in tech and automotive, of which 1/3 will be independent
Robust financial profile, low-risk and high returns targets
Growth strategy with a target of ~1 million vehicles in 2031
Targeted revenue of €10bn+ in 2025 with four vehicles, reaching €25bn+ in 2031 with seven vehicles, translating into a +30% CAGR2 between 2023 and 2031
Targeted profit & free cash flow breakeven in 2025, 10%+ operating margin in 2030 onwards and above 80% cash conversion3 in 2031
Targeting an IPO in H1 2024 provided favorable market conditions. Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, first cornerstone investors, investing in total up to €0.8bn in Ampere. Qualcomm Technologies also considers investing. Renault Group will keep a strong majority in Ampere’s capital.
“Ampere is an ambitious, holistic, and structural response of the European industry to the challenges coming from East and West.
In the true spirit of Renault, Ampere is engineered to make electric and connected cars affordable for all, addressing the imperatives of energy transition and seizing the growth opportunities on the market.
Ampere is first about striving for technological excellence and customer experience: two EV-native platforms, a powerful line-up of seven cars, a new generation of centralized electronic architecture, an advanced Android-based software suite, and the most compact and efficient supply and manufacturing EV ecosystem, all created in Europe.
The uniqueness of Ampere is based on an open and horizontal approach with best-in-class partners, ensuring low-risk, flexibility, and smart capital allocation to navigate a fast changing and competitive environment.
Ampere combines the best of two worlds: the experience and firepower of a leading carmaker and the agility and innovation of a newcomer. Ampere is ESG in 3D, designed from scratch reaching the highest standard in terms of decarbonization, circular economy and fair transition.
I’m more than confident that the success of Ampere relies on the expertise and enthusiasm of a highly diverse team that has proven extremely effective in the last two years of preparation.” said Luca de Meo, Chief Executive Officer of Renault Group
“With high-performance cars, competitive prices, a strong brand and high-quality services, Ampere is well positioned to catch the growth on the European EV market.
Ampere targets a 30% average annual growth of revenues between 2023 and 2031. From 10 billion euros in 2025 with 4 vehicles, Ampere will target more than 25 billion euros of revenue in 2031 with 7 competitive vehicles.
Thanks to its clear roadmap of 40% cost reduction in one generation, Ampere will be able to gradually reduce vehicles’ prices while improving margins. Indeed, benefiting from the rolling start of Renault Group on EV and software, Ampere provides a low-risk and high return financial profile with the ambition to reach breakeven point in 2025 (both in operating margin and in free cash flow) and targets an operating margin above 10% from 2030 onwards. Beyond its own line-up, Ampere is also designed to be a technological, manufacturing and business platform for other brands which represents further upsides for Ampere.
The recent carve-out, successfully completed two weeks ago, is a first significant milestone for us, and we are preparing the next strategic move: the IPO is an opportunity to further accelerate the development of Ampere without drawing on Renault Group resources and it allows Renault Group to accelerate on the roadmap to reward its shareholders.” said Thierry Piéton, Chief Financial Officer of Renault Group
Ampere, driving force of Renault Group’s transformation
Renault Group completed the first steps of its ‘Renaulution’ plan ahead of schedule, accomplishing the fastest turnaround in the recent history of the automotive industry.
Announced in November 2022, the current Revolution phase aims to transform Renault Group into a Next Gen automotive company built on five focused businesses addressing the new value chains arising from the transformation of the automotive and mobility industry: electric vehicles (EV) & software, new mobility services, circular economy, high-end vehicles in addition to ICE & hybrid vehicles.
Ampere is the driving force of the Group’s transformation: an autonomous company that designs, engineers, manufactures and markets electric passenger cars under the Renault brand in Europe. It aims to propel the Renault brand and position it as a leader in the new era of reaching zero-emission and software development.
Ampere’s ambition is to reach a double-digit market share with a double-digit operating margin, addressing the core vehicle segments in Europe by 2031.
On November 1st, 2023, Ampere ‘s carve-out was successfully completed. From Day 1, Ampere comprises 11,000 employees, of which 35% are engineers, focusing on EV and software technologies. Ampere benefits from strong assets for which most investments have already been made, including two EV-native platforms and a highly productive industrial ecosystem in France with low carbon emission standards: ElectriCity and Cléon.
Its structure is lean and efficient, enabling agile cooperation. Ampere is a data-driven company, built on technology, thanks to core IT platforms, completely connected, transparent and silo-breaking. It is led by a highly experienced Leadership team with expertise from global tech giants and international automotive companies.
A growth story thanks to cost advantage, complete product line-up and tailored customer experience
Democratizing EV in Europe addressing a broader customer base
As a leader in mid-size and compact cars in Europe, Renault Group, and therefore Ampere, is well positioned to address the B and C-segments that together are expected to represent 75% of the European EV market by 2030. These segments are forecast to grow by around 25% CAGR between 2023-2030.
To capture this opportunity, Ampere aims to democratize EV in Europe, by reaching EV / ICE price parity before competition in the B and C segments.
Ampere already has a major competitive advantage with its two EV-native platforms that are cost effective by design and fit-for-purpose:
AmpR Small platform for the B-segment (previously CMF-B EV)
AmpR Medium platform for the C-segment (previously CMF-EV)
Beyond these platforms, Ampere has a clear roadmap to reduce its cost, based on a holistic EV system approach. By 2027/2028, Ampere targets to reduce variable costs between the 1st and the 2nd generation of C-segment electric vehicles by 40%, following a continuous trajectory, along 3 main levers:
EV engine (battery and e-powertrain):
50% reduction on battery cost per vehicle for the same range
25% reduction on e-powertrain cost per vehicle
Vehicle (platform and upper body):
25% reduction in platform cost per vehicle
15% reduction in upper body cost per vehicle
Operational excellence allowing a reduction of 50% of manufacturing and logistic costs
As a result of its continuous cost reduction plan, a first major step has been reached with Scenic E-Tech which is already at Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) parity with hybrid vehicles. The EV/ICE price parity is expected to be reached by 2027/2028 with the 2nd generation (Megane-E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech successors) while preserving margins. On the B-segment, Ampere will start with Renault 5 in 2024 and Renault 4 in 2025 (starting price of Renault 5 around €25k) and “Legend”, a new electric car below €20k (car to be revealed at the Ampere Capital Markets Day).
A complete product line-up
To achieve this objective, Ampere benefits from an exciting and competitive portfolio of A, B and C-segment cars initially consisting of five vehicles:
Megane E-Tech, launched mid-2022, at a €38k entry price, is the vehicle that has repositioned the brand in the EV market and allows to conquer new customers (conquest rate from competition above 50% in Europe). It has a 2.2% of market share in the European EV market and is the number one car in the C-EV segment in France. This car benefits from a best-in-class infotainment and connectivity system: OpenR Link.
Scenic E-Tech, on the market early next year with an entry price of around €40k, is the future of European family cars. Sustainability is at the core of its design with up to 95% of recyclable materials, offering a best-in-class range of over 625 km WLTP and a TCO already at par with hybrid cars.
Renault 5, to be revealed in Q1 2024, is the rebirth of an iconic model already recognized by the press and social media. The Renault 5 will offer up to 400km of range for an entry price at around €25k competing with core hybrid B-segment cars. It will be equipped with the Reno avatar, a virtual copilot packed with artificial intelligence, learning from its users every day to better anticipate and answer their needs.
Renault 4, to be launched in 2025, will be the reinterpretation of a universal car for the electric era. It will be a car with top versatility capitalizing on the winning ingredients of the Renault 5, such as the AmpR Small platform and the infotainment.
“Legend”, unveiled today, is the fit-for-purpose urban vehicle with no compromise: best-in-class efficiency with only 10 kWh/100km, 75% lower CO₂ emissions than the average European ICE car sold in 2023 over its lifecycle, zero tailpipe CO₂ emissions and lower raw materials consumption thanks to its compact size. Made in Europe, the car will be offered at an entry price below €20k (before subsidies) which will represent less than €100 per month for our clients.
This line-up will be extended with two additional cars for the second generation, representing a total of seven vehicles by 2031. From a target of ~300,000 vehicles sales in 2025, Ampere expects to sell ~1 million vehicles in 2031, reaching a market share of ~10%.
Beyond its own line-up, Ampere is also designed to be a technological, manufacturing and business platform serving brands other than Renault thanks to the flexibility of the manufacturing lines, the modularity of the two platforms and the competitiveness of the cost base. Ampere will produce at least two models for Alpine, the next Micra for Nissan and another model for Mitsubishi Motors. Ampere will also support the Dacia electrification journey and will provide software solutions for the entire Renault Group.
A tailored customer experience beyond the product
Beyond the product, Ampere offers an exciting and reassuring customer journey. This is key as the EV market is shifting from early adopters to mainstream customers. For that, Ampere can rely on five strong assets from Day 1:
Renault brand awareness of 98%
Omnichannel customer experience: physical, building on Renault Group’s 4,700 dealership sites with 30,000 EV trained people all around Europe, and digital with the launch of a 100% online customer journey
Renault Group’s unique aftersales network
Comprehensive and sustainable charging solutions at competitive prices at home or on the road
Mobilize Financial Services offers with financing solutions ranging from simple subscription for a few days to full leasing for several years
A story of technology excellence, innovation and partnerships
Software-Defined Vehicle Tech excellence
Moving to a centralized electronic architecture, being connected to the cloud, and having high calculation and connectivity capacities, SDV enables the permanent upgradeability of the car. It also allows a significant reduction in chip costs, an increase in the car’s residual value and it drives a stronger customer loyalty.
Ampere can rely, from Day 1, on 1,800 leading software and system engineering talents representing 50% of its total engineering workforce. Coming from the acquisition of Intel Europe in 2017, these engineers have strong expertise, facilitating development together with best-in-class tech players, Qualcomm Technologies and Google. Ampere’s team has developed a solution with Google, already embedded in the Megane E-tech and Scenic E-tech: OpenR Link. With this open approach, Ampere gets the best of both worlds: it retains the ownership of the IP and car data in Europe while benefitting from an environment that will ensure it will give its customers access to the ever-expanding universe of apps that make Google built-in so unique.
This horizontal approach enables Ampere to save time, cost, and reduce execution risk. In addition to sharing investments and securing competitive costs, it reduces development time by 50%, putting the cost of development on par with Chinese players and up to half of Western OEMs.
The first SDV is expected to be on the market in 2026.
Ready from Day 1 thanks to strong assets and Renault Group’s backing
Unique ecosystemic approach to cover the EV value chain
Ampere benefits from a unique ecosystemic approach to cover the full EV value chain with limited investments and technological agility, through partnerships with the best players for battery and e-powertrain development. Ampere is also a pioneer in zero-rare-earth e-powertrain.
ElectriCity, local-for-local industrial footprint
Ampere’s manufacturing pole consists of four high-tech factories, ready Day 1, with a total capacity of 400ku/year, scalable to 620ku/year by 2028:
ElectriCity:
Douai and Maubeuge, two assembly plants to produce Ampere’s line-up and its partner’s models
Ruitz to produce battery cases and electric components
Cléon, being converted to become one of the biggest and most competitive European e-powertrain production sites
ElectriCity is a unique and compact ecosystem, grouping 75% of suppliers within a 300km radius and 75% of potential customers within a 1,000km range. This allows a reduction of logistic costs by 40%. Ampere’s manufacturing pole will deliver best-in-class productivity with a car assembly time of 9 hours, starting with Renault 5. Cost-wise, ElectriCity will be as competitive as Eastern European plants by 2025.
ElectriCity’s carbon footprint (industry scope 1 and 2) will be net zero by 2025. This will be achieved by following a clear decarbonization path based on the optimization of utilization rates, right-sizing, optimized energy management thanks to a 4.0 manufacturing system and digital tools combined with low carbon energy.
Renault Group and Ampere, a highly beneficial relationship for both sides
Ampere will leverage Renault Group’s other business units. It will benefit from complete financing capabilities (including insurance) from Mobilize Financial Services, the mobility and energy services (including charging) from Mobilize Beyond Automotive and the circular economy-related services from The Future Is NEUTRAL.
Leveraging the Renault Group ecosystem – Renault brand awareness, distribution network, manufacturing capabilities and procurement scale – is estimated to lead to cost avoidance in the magnitude of €15bn for Ampere.
This relationship between Renault Group and Ampere will be reciprocal and balanced in terms of flows and underpinned by clear arm’s length contractual agreements that fully ensure both companies’ interests are respected.
AmpereFocus on EV & Software content
Renault GroupSupport on non-EV/Software specific
Strategy
Line-up strategy
Technology& innovations roadmap
Services offer roadmap
Overall capital allocation
Renault brand consistency
Development
Design & development of EV-specific and software components
Design & development of components not specific to EV and software
Operations
Manufacturing: Electricity + Cléon
Sales & Operations Planning
Procurement (specifications)
Quality & IS/IT specific to Ampere
Supply chain operations (transport, packaging)
Procurement (scale effect)
IT platforms
Quality standards
Sales & Marketing
Commercial strategyfor Ampere line-up
Expertise centerslinked to EV customer journey (e.g. charging)
National sales companies and dealer network steering
Operations for aftersales and financing services
Support Functions
Light support functions (that cannot be mutualized)
Mutualized support functions
ESG native
Ampere is truly ESG-native. Ampere’s ESG purpose is based on three pillars:
Decarbonization beyond electrification, targeting net zero company by 2035,
Circular economy to preserve resources, based on The Future Is NEUTRAL and Mobilize,
Fair transition, with high ambitions in terms of human rights and transparency in the supply chain, as well as being an ethical and inclusive workplace.
Sustainalytics rates Ampere #1 in the automotive sector4 globally with a score of 12.8, over 4 points better than other pure EV players.
Targeting net zero company by 2035
Ampere aims to be a net zero company by 2035, following a cradle-to-grave approach. The carbon neutrality roadmap relies on:
Electrification: full EV line-up with zero tailpipe emissions,
Industry: targeted net zero for industry scope by 2025,
Usage: low-carbon energy charging, based on the IEA5 forecast, and
Suppliers: objective to reduce its supplies’ emissions by up to 30%, and for battery sourcing by up to 35%, by 2030.
A new approach to suppliers
Ampere will streamline its panel of suppliers, reducing it by around 40% while engaging in a long term and more strategic relationship with its suppliers, seeking opportunities to co-invest, co-create, and co-develop. Ampere will make sure this ecosystem complies with the highest standards in terms of human rights, transparency, and ethics.
Governance: leading the organization independently
Ampere’s Corporate Governance will meet the highest standards of independence and will be lean to ensure the speed of decision and agility required to match its business model: Ampere’s Board of Directors will count 11 directors with strong expertise in tech and automotive, including four independent directors (more than 1/3 of total directors), six Renault Group directors (including the Chairman) and one Nissan director. It will be chaired by Luca de Meo.
There will be three dedicated committees (Audit & Risks, Nomination & Compensation, Strategy & Sustainability).
Robust financial profile, low-risk and high returns targets
A growth story
Ampere targets €25bn+ revenues in 2031 and 10%+ operating profit margin from 2030 onwards with a clear milestone to reach its breakeven point in 2025 (operating margin and free cash flow).
2023
2025
2031
Number of models
1
4
7
Vehicle sales (in units)
~45k
~300k
~1M
Revenue
~€2.8bn
€10bn+
€25bn+
Operating profit as % of revenue
80% cash conversion rate7 in 2031.
From c. 25% of revenue expected in 2024, Capex and R&D is targeted to be at 10% on average over 2024-2031 and c.8% on the long-term.
Next steps
Renault Group has funded the first phase to establish Ampere. This first phase was completed with Ampere’s carve-out on November 1st, 2023. Ampere now enters a new phase of acceleration of its development. Raising capital from a potential IPO would enable Ampere to grow faster, more autonomously, without further pulling on the Group’s resources and ultimately would provide enhanced financial returns for Ampere’s investors and to Renault Group.
With a potential IPO, Ampere would be fully funded. A portion of the proceeds would fund capital expenditure, R&D and potential external investments in particular in three key areas:
The further strengthening of Ampere’s software value chain capabilities
The acceleration of cost reduction activities, especially the design and development of Ampere’s second-generation C-segment platform
The development of new cars
Part of the proceeds are already secured with the agreed investments of our first cornerstone investors: Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors investing in total up to €0.8bn in Ampere. Qualcomm Technologies also considers investing.
EV is a different sport requiring a differently set up athlete. The creation of Ampere comes with a new work culture, perfectly suited to the specificities of the EV ecosystem. Ampere will benefit from a self-controlled Tech backbone, a proprietary IP portfolio, and a highly skilled workforce. Its dedicated management and governance will ensure full focus to deploy a fully-fledged strategy to establish the European front-runner on the fast-growing EV market.
Establishing Ampere as an autonomous entity has already paid off with numerous cost reduction and other operational initiatives. The transparency required by Ampere’s potential listing would further reinforce full accountability of Ampere’s management and workforce.
Ampere is the 1st European EV & software player that comes with such a low-risk approach. It benefits from the Renault Group ecosystem, and its unique horizontal approach enables to deliver rapidly in a changing environment with less investments.
Conclusion
Agile mindset, established with scale, designed to deliver
High growth
Low risk
Scarcity value
1.Fast-growingEuropean EVmarket(~25% CAGR2023-30)
2.Excitingproductline-upWith 7 vehicles
3.Uniquehorizontal approachAcross EV & softwarevalue chain
4.Competitive industrial ecosystemClear path to40% cost reduction
5.Agile andWell-investedScale from Day 1
6.#1 ESG ratingin auto8Top 6th percentileall industries(Sustainalytics)
7.Only publiclylisted European EV & software OEMEurope for Europe
Robust financial profile, low-risk and high returns targets
>30% growth(revenue CAGR 2023-2031)
~1M unitsby 2031
Operating marginBreakevenby 202510%+ from 2030 onwards
80% of investments already spentfor first 4 models
Free cash flowBreakevenby 2025>80% conversion rate9 by 2031
Alreadyc.700k EV sold >
Fully fundedat IPO
About Renault GroupRenault Group is at the forefront of a mobility that is reinventing itself. Strengthened by its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, and its unique expertise in electrification, Renault Group comprises 4 complementary brands – Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize – offering sustainable and innovative mobility solutions to its customers. Established in more than 130 countries, the Group has sold 2.1 million vehicles in 2022. It employs nearly 106,000 people who embody its Purpose every day, so that mobility brings people closer.
Ready to pursue challenges both on the road and in competition, Renault Group is committed to an ambitious transformation that will generate value. This is centred on the development of new technologies and services, and a new range of even more competitive, balanced, and electrified vehicles. In line with environmental challenges, the Group’s ambition is to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040.
More information: https://www.renaultgroup.com/en/
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the current expectations and projections of Renault Group and Ampere relating to their financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond Renault Group’s and Ampere’s control that could cause their actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified under Chapter 4 of the Universal Registration Document of Renault Group, filed with the French Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) on 24 March 2022 and available on the Company’s website (www.renaultgroup.com) and the AMF’s website (www.amf-france.org). Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Renault Group’s and Ampere’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. Accordingly, readers of this press release are cautioned against relying on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. In addition, the forward-looking financial information included in this press release has not been audited by Renault Group’s statutory auditors.
This press release does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in securities in France, the United States or any other jurisdiction.
In 2023, we engaged Sustainalytics to perform a broad-based Corporate ESG Assessment of Ampere, covering eight ESG categories, including Carbon- Products and Services, Human Capital, Business Ethics, Human Rights-Supply Chain, Corporate Governance, Product Governance, Resource Use-Supply Chain, Carbon-Own Operations. Sustainalytics assessed us as having an overall indicative Corporate ESG Assessment score of 12.8, which places Ampere in the Low risk category as of 16 August 2023. Our indicative score would place us in both the top 2nd percentile of Automobiles subindustry companies assessed by Sustainalytics and in the top 6th percentile of all companies assessed by Sustainalytics. Sustainalytics is a leading ESG research provider, who provides research based on its independent methodology, and publicly available information or non-confidential information from issuers. While Sustainalytics exercised due care in compiling this Corporate ESG Assessment, it makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any facts or statements included in this Corporate ESG Assessment, that Ampere has made available to Sustainalytics for this purpose, in light of the circumstances under which such facts or statements have been presented, and assumes no liability with respect to the consequences of relying on this information for investment or other purposes. In no event this Corporate ESG Assessment nor any portion thereof shall be considered as an offer to buy a security, solicitation of votes or proxies, investment advice, expert opinion or an assurance letter as defined by the applicable legislation.
1 refers to companies in the Automobiles sub-industry assessed under comprehensive model2 Compound annual growth rate3 Free cash flow as a % of operating profit4 refers to companies in the Automobiles sub-industry assessed under comprehensive model5 IEA : International Energy Agency6 Compound annual growth rate
7 Free cash flow as a % of operating profit8 refers to companies in the Automobiles sub-industry assessed under comprehensive model9 Free cash flow as a % of operating profit
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Ampere Capital Market Day_Press Release