Renault
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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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Renault opens its first electric-vehicle-only showroom, in Sweden
How to sell electric cars in these early years poses a quandry for all automakers. Tesla chose to avoid existing franchised dealerships and set up its own "stores," where shoppers can learn about plug-in electric vehicles, and their advantages, and have questions answered by Tesla representatives...
John Voelcker -
Nissan and partners have now sold 540,000 plug-in electric vehicles
Of the 90 million or so new vehicles sold globally last year, plug-in electric cars made up only a tiny proportion, roughly 1 percent. But the auto industry works on long product cycles and buyers tend to be conservative, only changing the types of cars they buy if life circumstances change or...
John Voelcker -
Nissan, Mitsubishi, Renault all to 'target' electric cars in 2020, CEO Ghosn says
Carlos Ghosn has been an advocate of electric cars for years, but after initial disappointment, he's ready to take on the segment with even greater focus. The CEO of the Renault Nissan Alliance that now includes Mitsubishi predicted the rise of electric cars nearly a decade ago, and oversaw the...
Sean Szymkowski -
Life with Renault Twizy: electric bopping around Bermuda
I well remember the first time I saw a Renault Twizy. Wandering along the Champs Elysees in Paris in the spring of 2012, I happened upon a Renault showroom hosting an electric car extravaganza. Amid flashing lights, blasting techno music, and vamping supermodels sat a couple of Renault Zoes, the...
David Noland -
Renault Kangoo ZE small electric van now on sale with longer range
French automaker Renault has given its small light commercial electric vehicle a handful of upgrades, including a significantly longer battery range. The Renault Kangoo ZE is now officially on sale with a longer rated range, a more powerful charging system, and a heat pump to keep the little van...
Sean Szymkowski -
With more plug-in electric vehicles on the road today than ever, automakers are working to solve an impending issue: what to do with used lithium-ion batteries. Once the batteries are no longer suitable to power vehicles, automakers must recycle or repurpose them. Now, through a partnership with The Mobility House, the Renault Nissan Alliance is planning to use them in a 100-megawatt power storage plant in Europe. DON'T MISS: Mercedes launches home energy-storage battery, echoing Tesla The energy-storage facility would give used lithium-ion batteries from the automakers' electric cars a...
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Renault, Qualcomm show off electric-car road charging at 60 mph
It's long been an inspiring futuristic concept: electric cars that can recharge continuously at speed, driving along roadways with built-in inductive charging. Think a modern-day version of slot cars, but at 1:1 scale. Now French automaker Renault has demonstrated a prototype of just such a system...
John Voelcker -
Nissan's plans: reignite electric-car sales, boost lagging Mitsubishi
The Nissan Leaf has been a fading light in the electric car market, but after a few years in the dark, it will soon get a chance to shine once more. Despite a battery capacity increase in 2016 and a quarter of a million in sales since its 2010 launch, the Leaf has been in dire need of a proper trip...
Green Car Reports -
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 -
More details emerge on low-cost electric car from Renault-Nissan for 2020
The Renault-Nissan Alliance's plans for future electric cars are beginning to come into focus. The two automakers have dominated global battery-electric car sales with the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe, as well as lower-volume models like the Nissan e-NV200 and Renault Kangoo ZE electric vans. But...
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan e-NV200 beats Renault Kangoo ZE in electric van sales in Europe
The Renault-Nissan Alliance continues to lead all other automakers globally in sales of battery-electric cars. The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric car in history, while the Renault Zoe now leads the European market for cars with plugs. But Renault-Nissan's electric-vehicle dominance isn't...
Stephen Edelstein -
The Renault Zoe, a subcompact hatchback, has little in common with the Tesla Model S besides a battery-electric powertrain and five doors. But the maker of Europe's best-selling electric car seeks to underscore the idea that "electric cars can be fun and fast," perhaps hoping that some of Tesla's high-velocity image will rub off. At this week's Geneva auto show, the company unveiled a Renault Zoe e-Sport Concept vehicle that took its electric hatchback in a very different direction. DON'T MISS: 2017 Renault Zoe electric car: larger battery doubles range Its bodyshell is made entirely of the...
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With Mitsubishi, Renault-Nissan is world's largest maker of all-electric cars
The controlling interest in carmaker Mitsubishi it acquired last year has helped the Renault-Nissan Alliance to solidify its position as the global leader in sales of battery-electric cars. The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling all-electric car in history, while the Renault Zoe has achieved...
Stephen Edelstein -
Renault adds new Master ZE larger electric delivery van
French carmaker Renault sells no passenger cars in North America, and hasn't for almost 30 years now. But in Europe, its all-electric Zoe subcompact hatchback has been the best-selling plug-in electric car for months on end. The Zoe is one of three "ZE" (zero emission) vehicles sold by Renault, and...
John Voelcker -
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 -
Long-range Renault Zoe electric car reviewed in U.K.: Forbidden Fruit
A British car magazine reviews the updated Renault Zoe electric car.
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan and Renault to share common electric-car platform in future
The Renault-Nissan Alliance's best-selling electric cars could share a common platform in the future.
Stephen Edelstein -
Startup nuTonomy will test an autonomous Renault Zoe prototype in Boston.
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Renault Trezor concept in Paris; electric drive, new design language
The Renault Trezor electric sports-car concept borrows hardware from Formula E.
Stephen Edelstein -
Renault delivered its 100,000th electric car on Friday, in Norway
A white Renault Zoe delivered in Norway is the French automaker's 100,000th electric car.
Stephen Edelstein -
Cleaning up diesel too costly for mass market, Renault says, as real-world testing looms
Renault believes mass-market diesel cars will slowly disappear from Europe.
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan and Renault together now up to 340,000 electric cars built
Nissan and Renault reach another electric-car milestone.
Stephen Edelstein -
50,000th Renault Zoe electric car delivered (after 200,000 Nissan Leafs)
The Renault Zoe recently passed 50,000 sales.
Stephen Edelstein