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Renault Group chief executive François Provost detailed plans for substantial new spending during a Saturday interview on France Inter radio. He recalled that the company had already invested €13 billion in France over the previous five years to completely reshape its industrial operations around electric vehicle technology. Provost added that the group would reinvest more than €10 billion in the coming five years to further advance electric models and improve affordability provided the social and political context supports it. The executive framed the commitment as a continuation of Renault’s bet on domestic manufacturing.
Provost highlighted strong gains in the company’s French production volumes. According to the chief executive, Renault produced 500,000 vehicles in France in 2025. He projected output would rise by at least 25 percent in 2026 thanks to growing electric vehicle demand. The increase has already prompted operational changes including the adoption of three daily shifts at the Douai plant in northern France.
Electric vehicles captured a record 42 percent of new car registrations in France in September, Provost said in the interview. The chief executive attributed the surge to elevated fuel prices that emerged with the onset of the war in Iran. He noted that Renault holds the leading position in the French electric vehicle segment with one in every four such cars sold. The performance underscores how the brand has capitalized on shifting consumer preferences.
The Renault leader set a clear pricing objective for the end of the decade. Provost stated that by 2030 an electric vehicle should carry the same price tag as a hybrid equivalent, which would require cutting costs by around 15 percent. He indicated the company also aims to reduce hybrid powertrain expenses by more than €1,000 to bring them in line with traditional combustion engine models before the end of the decade. These targets respond to persistent consumer concerns about upfront costs despite rising fuel expenses.
Provost pointed to existing infrastructure projects that underpin the strategy. A battery gigafactory at Douai developed in partnership with China’s Envision represented a €1.5 billion investment, he explained. The facility supplies units for the Renault 5 E-Tech, one of the company’s best-selling electric models now rolling out of French facilities.
The chief executive voiced concerns about France’s fiscal position during the radio appearance. He described rising public debt and associated refinancing costs as worrying given that France accounts for 20 percent of Renault’s overall activity and 40 percent of its worldwide employees. Provost warned that any resulting instability would carry major consequences for the automaker, its workforce and its network of suppliers. The comments reflect the depth of Renault’s longstanding presence in the country.
The International Energy Agency projected that electric cars would represent 29 percent of global vehicle sales in 2026. European markets have led recent gains with battery-electric registrations climbing 36 percent in August according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Such momentum supports the strategic emphasis Renault has placed on its French operations.
