Valérie Calloch
The Beijing Motor Show still has a few days to run. Chinese consumers can take advantage of the opportunity to discover the EZ-GO concept car presented by Renault at the Geneva Motor Show. Symbolizing the future of shared mobility, EZ-GO is a close fit with Beijing’s ambitions to become a smart city. A concept car of innovative design, it reinforces Renault’s image as a pioneer and trendsetter for over 120 years.
Renault celebrates 120 years of innovation in China
At the Brand Night in Shanghai last March, Renault launched a limited series SUV with the name of “120 years”. For the first time in Asia, the brand also put on a display of the most iconic models in the Renault Collection: the Type A, Type JY, Renault 5 Turbo, Trezor and Symbioz concept cars and the futuristic R.S. 2027 Vision.
Today, the tradition is continuing with EZ-GO.
All these vehicles demonstrate Renault’s ability to reinvent itself constantly in order to make life easier for customers and bring them vehicles of attractive design!
Renault, France and China share a sense of pride in their rich history
The history of Renault began in 1898, in a tiny garden shed just outside Paris. This is where Louis Renault designed the voiturette and founded the company Renault Frères. Renault vehicles quickly made their mark in motorsports events, and the orders began to flood in. In 1925, Deng Xiao Ping – future general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party – worked as a fitter at Renault’s Boulogne-Billancourt plant outside Paris. In the 1930s, Renault exported chassis for body assembly in China (O.S. type chassis developing 10 hp).
The links between China, France and Renault were further strengthened by the signing of a joint venture with Dongfeng on 16 December 2013. In February 2016, Renault gained a strong new industrial base in Wuhan, a city that already had close ties with France, reflected in the university exchange program set up between the two in the 1980s. Today, the French department of Wuhan University is recognized as one of the best in China. Wuhan is also the Chinese city with the highest level of French investment. In April 2012, respecting the universal tradition of the aviation industry, the Air France flight opening the first direct line between Wuhan and Europe received a water salute on its arrival at Wuhan airport.
An ambitious road map
“Today, China is one of the mainstays in the strategic Drive the Future plan, and Renault is ready to pursue further development in this country,” said Thierry Bolloré, Chief Operating Officer, Groupe Renault. “We are expanding our product range as part of a coherent approach: ‘In China, for China’. Our aim is to further the success of Renault by delivering the innovation and quality expected by our Chinese customers.”
As part of its expansion in China, Renault is planning to launch two new models a year between 2019 and 2022 with a view to covering all the SUV segments between now and 2023. It is also seeking to develop electric vehicles in order to take advantage of a significant competitive advantage, to double the number of dealers, triple production capacity and multiply annual sales by five between now and 2022 (400,000 vehicles).
“Attractive design, cutting-edge technologies and safety are just three of the strong points through which Renault is able to bring Chinese customers unique high-quality products and services for a pleasant lifestyle,” said François Provost, SVP Chairman of Asia-Pacific Region and CEO of DRAC.