Renault unveils plans for largest EV manufacturing facility in Europe

Renault has revealed it is planning on building the single largest electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Europe.

Called 'ElectriCity', the new centre is part of the automaker’s ‘Renaulution’ strategic plan, which aims to push the French firm to the forefront of the EV industry.

Once built, Renault says the manufacturing plant aims to create 400,000 vehicles annually by 2025, which would make it one of the most competitive facilities on the continent.

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Renault's Douai plant

Renault claims a university and training centre will also be built within ElectriCity, and it’s hoping the new facility will create some 700 new jobs.

The large scale EV endeavour came about as the result of the Renault Group and representatives of the French trade unions – CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC, CGT, FO, and SUD – working together to sign an agreement for the future of the Renault sites in the Hauts-de-France region.

The accord will see ElectriCity wholly owned by Renault SAS, which will group together the industrial sites of Douai, Maubeuge and Ruitz, and its nearly 5000 employees.

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The Renault Mégane E-Vision Concept

Moving forwards, Douai will be responsible for the production of the Mégane E-Vision, which will be built on Renault-Nissan's modular CMF-EV platform.

Douai will also be assigned a new C-segment vehicle for production, as well as a new electric platform dedicated to the B-segment vehicles.

Maubeuge will take care of the electric van segment in Europe, producing the New Kangoo and New Kangoo Van for Renault and brand partners Mercedes-Benz and Nissan.

It will also build the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric, which was recently unveiled in pre-production specification.

Finally, the Ruitz plant will support the other two facilities by producing new electrical components.

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The pre-production Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric

"I am very proud to have contributed to the creation of Renault ElectriCity, a symbol of Renault's know-how and technological innovation, and to participate in the enhancement of the economic and social attractiveness of Hauts-de-France in Europe,” Luciano Biondo, director of Renault ElectriCity, said.

“This agreement, signed with all the trade unions, is proof that the commitment of employees, constructive social dialogue and a strong local presence are key to setting up a robust and attractive industrial model."