Renault tightens collaboration policy with other manufacturers

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Renault Group will tighten its policy on collaborating with other manufacturers to develop vehicles, ensuring that each model has a distinct identity.

CarsCoops reported on Friday that the move followed management’s assessment that differentiation between some jointly developed cars, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and Nissan Micra EV, was not strong enough.

Renault Group chief executive François Provost outlined the change in approach at the 2026 Paris Motor Show.

Provost said Renault had previously failed to set sufficiently demanding differentiation requirements for vehicle-development partnerships.

“We did not ask for enough differentiation. It is all about differentiation,” Provost said.

Nissan redesigned most of the body panels, but Renault remains concerned that the two vehicles are fundamentally similar.

Provost cited the Dacia Spring and Renault Twingo E-Tech as examples of two models based on the same platform that nevertheless look different. He said this approach would serve as a benchmark for future partnerships.

Changing bumpers and lights, for example, tends to cost less than altering body panels or the vehicle structure.

The new policy is also relevant to Renault’s partnership with Ford. The US manufacturer is preparing an electric successor to the Fiesta using the shared architecture of the Renault 5 E-Tech and Nissan Micra.

Renault now favours long-term strategic partnerships that guarantee design differentiation. Stellantis is also beginning to emphasise a similar approach as it faces the challenge of distinguishing models built on the same platforms and powertrains.