According to a Reuters report, Renault is engaged in active discussions with several automobile manufacturers, including China's Chery, as the French company explores opportunities for collaborative production and distribution agreements.
The disclosure came from Fabrice Cambolive, Renault Group's chief growth officer, who addressed journalists on Friday while confirming the completion of a partnership deal with Chinese automaker Geely in Brazil, which will be finalised on Monday.
This development highlights Renault's accelerating strategy of forging partnerships with global carmakers, with a particular focus on Chinese firms, as it works to maximise manufacturing efficiency worldwide and bolster the competitiveness of its vehicle offerings.
According to Monday's press release, Renault has executed definitive agreements to divest a 26.4% interest in its Brazilian subsidiary to Geely. The partnership will see both companies operating in Latin America's largest automotive market, where BYD is currently constructing production facilities and capturing market share with affordable battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Fabrice highlighted the advantages of such arrangements during the press conference, noting they represent "clearly a winning strategy” by enabling access to various platforms, industrial infrastructure, engineering capabilities and sales networks.
He clarified that additional partnerships with other manufacturers across different markets remain possible, confirming that Chery is among the carmakers with which Renault maintains contact regarding potential collaborative ventures, though no definitive projects have been concluded.
Bloomberg News reported in October on Renault's negotiations with Chery concerning vehicle manufacturing in South America.
The Brazilian agreement will permit Geely to utilise Renault's manufacturing plant in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, for assembling Geely-branded automobiles, which will be sold via Renault's distribution channels. In return, Renault will adopt Geely's vehicle architecture to broaden its model range across additional segments within the Brazilian market.
Fabrice explained that enhancing the facility's capacity utilisation represented a primary goal, as the plant presently operates at roughly 50% of its 400 000-unit yearly production capability.
Renault operates vehicle manufacturing plants in approximately a dozen countries, encompassing France, Spain and India. The company previously adopted collaborative strategies, having manufactured and marketed the Grand Koleos, developed using Geely's platform, in South Korea since 2024.
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