Renault to build Flexis vans in Normandy
The plant in Normandy, which currently manufactures the Renault Trafic and its electric offshoot, will begin producing Flexis electric vans in 2026. The Trafic E-Tech Electric will be available in two lengths of 5.08 (L1) or 5.48 metres (L2) and two heights of 1.97 or 2.5 metres.
The production of the Flexis vans will create 550 new jobs at the plant, which is why Renault says it is preparing a recruitment offensive. Renault already hired 1,000 more people between 2014 and 2023 and has produced more than one million Trafic vehicles in Sandouville for itself and its partners – from chassis to vans with emphatically high-quality interiors.
Little is known about the vans that Flexis intends to offer. However, the production of vehicles between 5.00 and 5.50 metres in length should not be a problem, given the size of the plant. All that is known is that the Flexis vans will not be based on the familiar Renault models, such as the Trafic or the larger Master, but on their own 800-volt skateboard platform.
Renault and the Volvo Group announced their joint venture Flexis in October 2023, which was finalised in March. Based in France, the joint venture will initially be owned 50 per cent by the Renault Group and 50 per cent by the Volvo Group. Both companies have agreed to invest 300 million euros each in Flexis over the next three years. At a later date, the French logistics company CMA CGM (with an investment of 120 million euros) will come on board as a third partner.
Flexis can draw on the expertise of the two founding parties, which will enable the Volvo Group (not to be confused with Volvo Cars) to expand its truck range to include vans. The initiators want to focus on the vehicles’ smart capabilities. However, no more detailed information is yet available on this either.
0 Comments