The Renault Group launches a response to Chinese electric cars with low cost with future electric Dacia for less than 18,000 euros.
A small electric city car at low prices and produced in Europe? Renault doubles the bet. After the future Twing, it is a new Dacia that Luca de Meo, the head of the company, presented at the financial results conference 20 February. It would be a replacement for spring Dacia, pushed to retire. Dacia will also offer an electric Sandero in the coming years, a priori and priori, which is always accessible.
While the European automotive industry is still trying to expand the offer of affordable electric vehicles, the French group announces an electric car in Europe, at a cost contained and developed at high speed.
European production: A small extra thing
Dacia Spring has still had a popular success since its launch, despite a very modest performance. Unfortunately, the sale is not so much, whether in France or Europe. Its production in China and its properties no longer attract customers as well as more competition. In France, the model has long been deprived of an ecological bonus (for what remains) and undergoes a customs surcharge that Europe will store on electric vehicles “made in China”. Dacia had to respond because the brand needs electric cars in its range, preferably built on a local level.
The new model will no longer be collected in China, but in Europe, most likely in the east. Like Renault Twingo, this novelty will be developed in record time. Twingo must be released in 21 months, this Dacia must do so in 16 months, according to Luca de Meo. It should therefore arrive shortly after the Renault City.
Real Dacia for less than 18,000 euros
To keep the price of a price below 18,000 euros, Renault relies on a well -established strategy. The new model will share a large part of its components with other models, including the future electric Twing for 20,000 euros. By rationalizing its production and shared Renault platform, it divides development costs.
” It will be a real dacia with excellent value for money », Provides the company boss. It is not a question of production of Rebadged Twingo clone, such as what we can observe elsewhere. It remains to be found whether the future model will restore the style near the current spring or orient an unprecedented track. Due to the development periods, we should quickly have an overview of the model and its main characteristics.
It is difficult to criticize Renault to bet on urban cars (less profitable) to democratize electricity, while many of its competitors are coming back. Luca de Meo assumes and even causes Chinese manufacturers. It may be a little risky: Citroën has done so and seems to turn against him today.
With this future novelty, the giant of the car wants to prove that it is still possible to produce in Europe without sacrificing the price. It remains to find out whether this promise will lead to commercial success as the first version.