The Volvo Renault partnership for the electric car of the future continues

A Volvo Renault joint venture aims to build and sell the next generation of electric commercial vehicles. The 2 manufacturers are part of the project together with the CMA CGM Group, a French shipping company also active in the shipping sector.

The latter has taken a 10% stake in this JV which will be called Flexis Sas and which sees an important investment plan. More precisely, each builder has a 45% stake and will invest 300 million euros by 2026 while the large marine company will stand “only” 120 million.

The common goal is to meet the demand for last-mile transportation through electric vehicles. But that’s not all: with JV we will respond to the increasing weight of regulations CO emissions₂ and the boom in e-commerce and related devices.

This is a sector where professional operators have new expectations in terms of electric vans. The European market for these vehicles is expected to grow by 40% per year on average until 2030.

Bringing together three leading companies with agile startups, Flexis Sas brings together the industrial know-how of world-class car manufacturers with the know-how of a company that also works in car coordination.

Volvo Renault Joint Venture: production of an electric light commercial vehicle in France

The Volvo Renault joint venture also has brands known for one special one know how: lozenge group for electric vehicles and applications, but also the production of light commercial vehicles. A Swedish company of logistics solutions and tailor-made service expertise. Finally, the French “liner” for equipment – especially for the automotive sector – and the decarbonisation of Supply.

Production of this new generation of light commercial vehicles will take place locally Renault factory of Sandouville, near the port of Le Havre (in Normandy). The project will be on a new type of platform skateboard dedicated to this type of 100% electric vehicles. It will have the ability to adapt to a wide range of body types at a competitive cost, and will bring significant safety improvements.

“The goal of these cars – he explains Luca De Meo, CEO of the Renault group – is to have management costs 30% below average. In fact, its convenience is this and not the cost of purchase. And for business it’s a big deal.”

Using a new integrated electronic system, the vehicle will have new features to manage user delivery activities and monitor commercial performance.

Connected services will allow consumers to update vehicles throughout their lifetime. The vehicle, however, will offer incredible compactness for urban mobility, a wide variety of uses with custom-made solutions, various battery capacities and the first 800V architecture on the automotive market in that category.

The new vehicles will also reduce noise pollution in the city

The Volvo Renault joint venture, based in France, will respond to the growing demand for a urban transportation efficient and decarbonised. 100% new range of SDV electric vehicles (Vehicle Specified by Software) will be presented later by a new company. Production is expected to begin in 2026.

“When it comes to decarbonisation, I don’t see projects like this on the horizon. We are currently with Volvo and CMA CGM but we are open to new potential investors who want to join the team. The product we will create also aims to solve the problems of environmental pollution and noise in urban areas” concludes the Italian manager.

(Explore the light commercial vehicle market in early 2023)