France
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A potential merger between Fiat Chrysler and Renault, which would have involved Japanese partners Nissan and Mitsubishi, is off the table. Fiat Chrysler withdrew the offer after Nissan, Renault's larger but junior partner withheld its support. A report in trade journal Automotive News (subscription required), noted that Nissan representatives abstained from the final vote Wednesday night. Nissan owns 15 percent of Renault, while Renault owns 43.4 percent of Nissan. The final agreement also foundered after the French government, which also owns 15 percent of Renault, requested a delay in the...
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Opel to swap Ampera-e (aka Bolt EV) for all-electric Corsa model in 2020
It's been six months since General Motors completed the sale of its Opel division in Europe to PSA Group, the French parent of the Citroën, DS, and Peugeot brands. With the sale came licenses to run out the model life of GM-designed vehicles sold as Opels (and Vauxhalls in the U.K.) while PSA...
John Voelcker -
Ahead of France, Paris to phase out internal-combustion engines by 2030
France followed two other European countries—Norway and the Netherlands—with a plan to ban the sale of new cars powered by gasoline and diesel by 2040. While the country will stick to the 2040 timeline, France's capital city of Paris announced a more aggressive timeline. Ten years ahead...
Sean Szymkowski -
Renault Zoe still dominates Europe electric-car sales; longer range boosts sales
Ask a North American driver to name companies that make electric cars, and you'll probably hear Tesla, maybe Nissan, and perhaps Chevy or BMW or Toyota. Chinese drivers may be more likely to say BYD (and perhaps Tesla), but Europeans will likely name Renault. (And Tesla.) The Renault Zoe, now in...
John Voelcker -
France plans to ban all gasoline, diesel vehicles by 2040
To most North Americans, the idea of banning all vehicles with internal-combustion engines seems unthinkable. Filling up with gasoline (or diesel) is as American as are dispersed low-density suburbs without mass transit, bike paths, or even sidewalks. Europeans, more of whom live in cities and most...
John Voelcker -
Renault Zoe electric-car owners can double their range by upgrading leased batteries
When the updated 2017 Renault Zoe was unveiled last fall at the Paris auto show, it became one of the few electric cars whose range effectively doubled over its model life. Launched in 2012 with a 22-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, the five-door subcompact hatchback had an effective range of 60...
John Voelcker -
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles continues to be dogged by allegations that it cheated on various diesel-emissions tests. In the U.S., the company faces two lawsuits alleging that diesel vehicles use "defeat device" software to circumvent emissions tests in a similar manner to Volkswagen's cheating TDI vehicles. In January, the EPA said FCA had failed to disclose eight software routines in its EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 that affect emissions, but did not confirm whether these pieces of software constituted illegal "defeat devices." DON'T MISS: EPA says Ram, Jeep diesel emission software violates Clean...
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The original biofuel for motor vehicles: wood (and why we don't use it today)
When it comes to alternative fuels, the discussion usually centers around compressed natural gas, or biofuels like ethanol or biodiesel. But before the concept of low-carbon or carbon-neutral fuels even existed, a few early makers and desperate drivers tried something completely different. They...
Stephen Edelstein -
French target Renault, Brits query Fiat, over diesel emissions
The past week has not been a particularly pleasant one for advocates of diesel cars. Volkswagen agreed to plead guilty to criminal counts related to its diesel-emissions cheating and pay $4.3 billion in fines, while U.S. prosecutors arrested one of the company's executives and indicted five more...
Stephen Edelstein -
Paris weekday ban on pre-1997 cars takes effect, historic cars excepted
Paris begins its ban on older cars this week.
Stephen Edelstein -
Pre-1997 cars forbidden in central Paris to cut emissions
Paris plans to ban older cars from its city center beginning July 1.
Stephen Edelstein -
Electric-car interest in France spikes due to gas shortage
French drivers are showing more interest in electric cars because of a fuel shortage.
Stephen Edelstein -
Paris offers a variety of transportation options beyond cars.
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50,000th Renault Zoe electric car delivered (after 200,000 Nissan Leafs)
The Renault Zoe recently passed 50,000 sales.
Stephen Edelstein -
Would Tesla want a former nuclear plant as a French factory? Government offers it up
The French government wants Tesla to use the site of a nuclear power plant for a European factory.
Stephen Edelstein -
France Will Pave Roads With 620 Miles Of Solar Panels
France's environment agency wants to pave roads with solar panels.
Stephen Edelstein -
France Expands Electric-Car Bonus To Scrap 10-Year-Old Diesel Cars
France will extend an incentive for scrapping old diesel cars to newer models.
Stephen Edelstein -
France To Give Dirtiest-Diesel Drivers $11,500 To Trade For Electric Car
French officials want drivers to swap the dirtiest diesels for electric cars.
Stephen Edelstein -
French company Bollore wants to build a national charging-station network, and could get help from the government.
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Days Numbered For Dirtiest Diesels In Europe; France To Phase Out Diesel Fuel
European cities move to eliminate the dirtiest cars from their streets.
Stephen Edelstein -
Renault To Show 117 MPG Concept At Paris Auto Show To Hit French Target
Europe's CO2-based taxation system means consumers already have access to a wide range of highly efficient vehicles. There are stricter targets on the horizon however, and Renault is the latest to accept a challenge set by the French government to produce a 117 mpg car by 2020. According to...
Antony Ingram -
Diesel Drivers: Would You Take $13,000 To Switch To Electric Cars?
Diesel has long been the fuel of choice for European drivers wishing to reduce their motoring costs. However, recent concerns over the emissions of older diesel vehicles has led to several countries drawing up plans to help remove them from the roads. France has always been strongly pro-diesel, but...
Antony Ingram -
Toyota i-Road Electric City Car Undergoes French Car-Share Trials
Toyota might not be convinced by battery electric vehicles but that hasn't stopped the company testing its i-Road urban electric vehicle. Its latest round of testing takes place in Europe, where a fleet of 70 i-Road and Coms personal mobility vehicles are being deployed throughout the French city...
Antony Ingram -
Half Of All Cars Banned From Paris Roads Over Smog; Electric Cars Exempt
Hazardous levels of pollution have caused authorities in Paris to enact its first car ban since 1997. The French capital will ban all vehicles on alternate odd and even license plates today and tomorrow in an effort to reduce the output of polluting particles in the air, following a run of warm...
Antony Ingram