As part of the so-called Renaulution strategic plan, Renault Group and its representative trade unions (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC, CGT, FO and SUD) have signed an agreement for the future of the sites in the Hauts-de-France region.
The agreement is to create Renault ElectriCity: the legal entity wholly owned by Renault SAS which will group together the industrial sites of Douai, Maubeuge and Ruitz, employing nearly 5,000 people.
By creating this single entity, the automaker aims to make these plants the most competitive and efficient production unit for electric vehicles in Europe, with 400,000 vehicles produced per year by 2025.
With this agreement, the group has set itself three major objectives:
- To enable the deployment of a robust and coherent industrial project for all three plants
- To achieve operational excellence by relying on a managerial model, a social model and the modernisation of production sites
- Develop the attractiveness of the Northern Industrial Cluster to build an infrastructure for key electric vehicle components
To support this ambitious industrial project, Renault plans to create 700 permanent jobs between 2022 and the end of 2024, with 350 new hires at the Maubeuge site and 350 recruits spread over the Douai and Ruitz sites.
These will take place within the framework of shared approaches with local employment missions, Pôle Emploi and all the stakeholders in the region.
Renaults said the Hauts-de-France region has the necessary assets to become the European reference in terms of know-how and production throughout the electric car value chain. In conjunction with its R&D functions, the group will form partnerships with universities to set up training schemes adapted to the changing automotive market and will contribute to research work.
The group will also participate in innovation initiatives in partnership with start-ups and specialised entities to support future developments in the automotive world by participating in ‘incubator’ type initiatives.
Finally, as the proximity of the group’s suppliers is an essential condition for success, Renault will work to demonstrate the advantages of locating both the battery factory project and other suppliers producing electric vehicle components near its factories.
“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,” said Luciano Biondo, director of Renault ElectriCity.
Key elements
- Douai
The plant will produce its first electric vehicle, Mégane E-Vision, from 2021 on the Alliance’s new modular CMF-EV platform
On the same platform, Douai will be assigned a new C-segment vehicle
A new electric platform dedicated to the industrialisation of B-segment vehicles will be installed
Maubeuge
- A pioneer and leader in the electric van segment in Europe for 10 years with Kangoo Electric, the site manufactures New Kangoo, New Kangoo Van for Renault and its partners Mercedes and Nissan and will produce New Kangoo
E-Tech Electric in 2022
In addition, the plant will be assigned other variants of New Kangoo
Ruitz
- The plant will host a new electrical components manufacturing activity