May 21 2025 – Renault, the French automotive giant, is gearing up to extend a hand of technological cooperation to rival carmakers in a bid to slash production costs and amplify the output of vehicles built on shared platforms, as announced by its CEO, Luca De Meo, in a Reuters report published yesterday (May 20).
Addressing a parliamentary hearing in Rome, Italy, De Meo emphasized Renault’s willingness to offer technical support aimed at facilitating the production of vehicles tailored for shared mobility. He believes that this collaborative approach could significantly drive down manufacturing expenses and bolster the company’s competitive edge in the market.
Despite the setback of a failed partnership with Germany’s Volkswagen to develop an electric version of Renault’s Twingo compact car, De Meo stressed that Renault remains committed to exploring collaborative ventures.
Elaborating further, De Meo highlighted the pivotal role of shared technologies, particularly platform architectures, in the compact car and commercial vehicle segments. These platforms serve as the backbone for designing and manufacturing a diverse range of vehicle models. However, he acknowledged that the substantial investments required in these areas often yield narrow profit margins.
Adding to the cost pressures, De Meo pointed to evolving regulatory landscapes. He forecasted that between 2015 and 2030, regulatory shifts could escalate the cost of mid-sized vehicles by 20%, with compact cars facing an even steeper 40% increase. Renault is banking on technology sharing as a strategy to mitigate these pressures and foster sustainable growth within the automotive industry.
