March 12, 2025 – Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group, recently made a public appeal in an article titled “What the Chinese Have Taught Us” published by French newspaper Ouest-France. De Meo emphasized the need for Europe to change its mindset and learn from China in the automotive industry, given China’s strong development momentum, to avoid falling behind.
According to de Meo, China is now “holding the steering wheel” in the automotive industry, while Europe is “sitting in the passenger seat.” He noted that Europe currently controls only 10% of battery production, with 90% of lithium refining capacity located in China. Additionally, Europe is lagging in the construction of charging infrastructure.
De Meo also pointed out that the demand for electric vehicles in the European market is insufficient due to the lack of competitiveness of European-made electric cars, which are priced higher than Chinese cars, and the purchasing power of European consumers cannot keep up.
The CEO stated that the electrification of automobiles is a favorable trend and “we will not go back to the past.” He believes that Europe should adopt a humble attitude, establish new connections, collaborate with Chinese manufacturers, draw inspiration from their methods, and attempt to predict the direction of the new technological revolution.
According to previous reports, the Renault Group has established a research and development center in Shanghai with about 150 employees, dedicated to developing electric vehicles exclusively for the European market, including the new generation of pure electric vehicle model Twingo E-Tech.
De Meo highly praised China’s electric vehicle technology and supply chain, particularly battery technology. “We have strengthened our partnership with CATL, and the Renault Group is shifting towards lithium iron phosphate battery technology,” he said. Renault will become the first European automaker to use lithium iron phosphate batteries, providing a more sustainable and economical solution for its electric vehicles.
In conclusion, Luca de Meo’s comments highlight the importance of learning from China in the automotive industry, especially in terms of electric vehicle technology and battery production. By collaborating with Chinese manufacturers and adopting new technologies, Europe can enhance its competitiveness in the global automotive market.
