Renault to Develop New Electric Vehicle to Rival Tesla and VW
Renault SA is mulling a new all-electric car, bigger than its best-selling Zoe, that could compete with the likes of Tesla’s Model 3 and Volkswagen AG’s ID.3.
The car may be produced on a common platform with Nissan and third alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp., according to Emmanuel Bouvier, commercial director of Renault’s electric car business.
“We’re working on developing the range of our lineup so as to cover all segments with electric cars,” said Bouvier, adding the new vehicle could also be derived from an existing model. “It’s too early to say that we’ll be in competition with Tesla head on, but we’re obviously planning to cover a larger share of the market.”
Renault and Nissan were among the first car makers to mass-produce electric vehicles with the Zoe and the Nissan Leaf.
But battery-powered vehicles remain a niche product with buyers put off by limited driving ranges and patchy charging points. That could change as a string of affordable new models move into showrooms.