Renault is leaning toward developing the platform for its new Alpine sports car models on its own rather than pursuing co-development with Geely’s Lotus, according to people familiar with the situation.
The French carmaker’s engineers have sufficient expertise to make the platform, which the company views as a key piece of rebooting its brand, said the people. Lotus is controlled by China’s Geely.
The likely decision doesn’t reflect soured relations with Geely, with which Renault partners on other projects, two of the people said, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo has been working to turn around the French carmaker, boosting Alpine’s allure and pushing ahead on electrification. As part of that plan, he rebranded the company’s Formula 1 team as Alpine, and is developing a full line up of sports car models to follow. Best known for its A110 sports coupé, Alpine is set to become fully electric as of 2026.
A spokesperson for Alpine said the company is in discussions with Lotus about the project and the company will communicate a final decision in due course. A spokesperson for Renault declined to comment. Media representatives from Lotus didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Renault’s talks are ongoing with AutoNation to start sales of the Alpine sports cars in the US, the people said. An initial public offering of Alpine is a possibility in the longer term, the 55-year-old CEO said earlier this month. The company is also reviewing possible investors to help fund its development, he said.
Alpine sales rose 33% last year to 3,546 cars, compared with Renault’s total shipments of about 2.1-million vehicles.
Fans of the Alpine Formula 1 team, which over the past decades clinched racing titles, including a 1978 win at Le Mans, will be converging in the brand’s hometown of Dieppe, France, this weekend to celebrate the victory of its first World Rally Championship 50 years ago.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Renault steers toward making Alpine on its own, not with Lotus
Image: Supplied
Renault is leaning toward developing the platform for its new Alpine sports car models on its own rather than pursuing co-development with Geely’s Lotus, according to people familiar with the situation.
The French carmaker’s engineers have sufficient expertise to make the platform, which the company views as a key piece of rebooting its brand, said the people. Lotus is controlled by China’s Geely.
The likely decision doesn’t reflect soured relations with Geely, with which Renault partners on other projects, two of the people said, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo has been working to turn around the French carmaker, boosting Alpine’s allure and pushing ahead on electrification. As part of that plan, he rebranded the company’s Formula 1 team as Alpine, and is developing a full line up of sports car models to follow. Best known for its A110 sports coupé, Alpine is set to become fully electric as of 2026.
A spokesperson for Alpine said the company is in discussions with Lotus about the project and the company will communicate a final decision in due course. A spokesperson for Renault declined to comment. Media representatives from Lotus didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Renault’s talks are ongoing with AutoNation to start sales of the Alpine sports cars in the US, the people said. An initial public offering of Alpine is a possibility in the longer term, the 55-year-old CEO said earlier this month. The company is also reviewing possible investors to help fund its development, he said.
Alpine sales rose 33% last year to 3,546 cars, compared with Renault’s total shipments of about 2.1-million vehicles.
Fans of the Alpine Formula 1 team, which over the past decades clinched racing titles, including a 1978 win at Le Mans, will be converging in the brand’s hometown of Dieppe, France, this weekend to celebrate the victory of its first World Rally Championship 50 years ago.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Classic Ferrari race car auctioned for R253m
Tesla offers discounts of more than $1,300 on some US Model 3 cars
Tyre manufacturers under pressure as too much rubber hits the road
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos