CO2 neutrality, a healthy ecology, and the largest and most competitive electric car production facility in Europe are the goal of the new ElectriCity industrial cluster, which includes the three Renault factories in northern France with 5,000 people in Douai, Maubeuge, and Ruitz. The foundation is the "Renaulution" plan, which the business announced at the start of 2021 and focused on e-mobility. Renault has now provided an update on the status of the ElectriCity project.
Renault said that preparations for serial production of the new Megane E-Tech Electric were already underway at the Douai facility. With projected annual output of over 400,000 vehicles beginning in 2025, ElectriCity should make inexpensive electric cars available to a wide range of people. "To become Europe's biggest electromobility manufacturing hub, Renault is streamlining industrial processes, boosting operational efficiency, and developing an integrated ecosystem that contributes to reduced fixed costs." Renault officials said, "The new Renault Group ElectriCity structure is all about manufacturing quality and maximum competitiveness."
The launch of the CMF-EV platform for electric cars marks the start of a new era for the Douai facility. The Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, released next year, will be the first model built on the new modular platform. Douai's production lines are being renovated to transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors. According to Renault, they have invested 550 million euros in production facilities and enhanced worker ergonomics. The first step was to modify an assembly line, on which multiple models from various car classes may now be built.
The new Renault Megane E-Tech Electric car is produced solely at the Douai facility. The hallmark of totally updated production, according to Renault, is a high degree of networking: Automated transporters deliver pre-specified components and assemblies to the correct location on the assembly line at the right time. Employees in the new battery assembly section assemble the energy storage devices for integration into the vehicle at a docking station. Robots in the body shop enable modularity and flexibility in car manufacturing. Electric cars of any size may be manufactured one after the other on the assembly line without interruption.
According to Renault, many workspaces have been rebuilt as part of the overall redesign to guarantee the greatest ergonomics and quality of production operations. "We aim for quality in every electric car, at every stage of the production process, and due to the hard work of every single person." "This is our promise to our customers, and the next generation of electric vehicles will realize it," says ElectriCity director Luciano Biondo.
A mega factory of electric vehicles will be developed at the Douai site as part of a strategic collaboration between the Renault Group and the battery manufacturing expert Envision AESC to produce batteries for the company's future electric vehicles. According to Renault, this provides a low carbon footprint due to shorter transportation routes, lower fixed costs, and more adaptable operations based on consumer demand.
More electric vehicles are on the way following the manufacturing shift at the Douai plant with the new Renault Megane E-Tech Electric car. In addition, the French want to build the new Renault 5 Electric in the future.
