Renault rumoured to cooperate with Smart for new Twingo

The recently announced new electric Renault Twingo could share the platform with the Smart #2 and the electric Dacia Sandero. At least that's what a French media outlet claims, however, Renault denies it.

In September, the French portal L’Argus had reported on the upcoming Smart #2, which is to be launched on the market in 2025 as the successor to the Smart Fortwo. In order to be able to offer the future electric Twingo for less than 20,000 euros, Renault will produce it together with Smart, just like the current generation. This is because Renault will not be able to achieve its price target on its own. “Talks are underway with partner manufacturers about cost sharing,” Renault boss Luca de Meo is quoted as saying.

As L’Argus claims, the new electric Renault Twingo and the Smart #2 will both use the AmpR Small platform (formerly: CMF-BEV) and will be produced together at the Slovenian plant in Novo Mesto from 2026. The upcoming electric Dacia Sandero could also use this platform from 2028.

However, the claims in the report by L’Argus have been denied by Renault.

Should a cooperation between Smart and Renault come about despite the denial, it would effectively be a new edition of the cooperation for these models: the current Twingo was already developed together with Smart and is similar in many respects to the earlier Smart Forfour – the rear engine concept also originates from the Smart cooperation. The only difference is that a lot has changed at Smart since then: Smart has gone from being a pure Mercedes brand to a joint venture between the Stuttgart-based company and Geely.

However, there are also direct links between Geely and Renault: Geely is to be brought on board as a 50:50 partner for Renault’s combustion engine division “Horse” (as a counterpart to the electric division Ampere). The Chinese also recently acquired 34 per cent of Renault Korea Motors and also want to have the Polestar 4 manufactured there. However, Geely itself relies primarily on the specially developed SEA for its brands’ electric cars, on which the Smart #1 and #3, as well as the large Volvo EM90, are based. According to L’Argus, the SEA is too large and, above all, too expensive for a small electric car such as a successor to the Fortwo. A small electric car platform from Renault would come in very handy – if only it weren’t for the denial.

largus.fr