BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT (Hauts-de-Seine) (Reuters) – Renault is considering involving new investors in its electrical and software unit Ampère and its sports brand Alpine, the group’s chief executive said on Thursday, in accordance with its strategy of openness to external partners to stay in the electrification race.
With the release of thermal engines and the demand for car connectivity requiring massive and rapid investments, the French car manufacturer is increasing technological and financial partnerships beyond its historic alliance with Nissan.
“We are exploring the possibility of involving other strategic investors in Ampère beyond Qualcomm,” Luca de Meo said at Renault’s general meeting.
The future electric entity, where Nissan and Mitsubishi could also invest in addition to the American semiconductor manufacturer, is due for an IPO at the end of the year, market conditions permitting, and with this in mind, will hold an “investor day” in the coming months.
Renault is also reviewing potential investors for Alpine, added Luca de Meo, and expects to be able to announce new partnerships by the end of the year to accelerate the brand’s international expansion.
Currently confined to a single model since the recent relaunch of this world rally champion name in 1973, Alpine will expand to include six cars by 2027.
The group unveiled on Tuesday evening a concept car prefiguring the A290, an electric city car derived from the future Renault 5 and scheduled for 2024.
A compact GT crossover will follow in 2025 and a new A110 berlinetta in 2026, also 100% electric, followed by two larger crossovers positioned in the two larger segments of the automotive market.
With these two larger cars, Renault believes it can enter the US market and possibly China, added Luca de Meo.
Renault’s strategy of openness applies to the group’s five entities: Ampère, Alpine, but also Power-Horse for internal combustion engines, where Geely and Saudi Aramco will acquire a stake, Mobilize (new mobility and financing) and the “circular economy”.
(Gilles Guillaume report, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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