🚏 Renault at the Crossroads: Mergers, EV Vans, and Batmobiles on a Diet

Renault is out here making moves—big ones. Whether it’s negotiating Nissan’s future like a shrewd chess master, dropping an ultra-lightweight Batmobile-esque EV, or teaming up with Volvo to launch next-gen electric vans, the French automaker is proving it’s not just playing in the auto industry—it’s trying to own the board.

The Nissan-Honda Power Struggle

Renault sent execs to Japan this week, coffee-fueled and calculator-ready, to discuss Nissan’s future in its pending merger with Honda. Nissan and Honda are hammering out a deal to form what could be the world’s third-largest auto group, cranking out 7.4 million vehicles a year. But Renault, which still holds a 36% stake in Nissan, wants to make sure they’re getting top dollar before Honda takes control. Think of it like selling a dealership—Renault is the smart operator trying to drive up the blue sky value before the ink dries.

• The deal: Nissan and Honda are negotiating a merger to create a mega-automaker.

• Renault’s angle: It wants Nissan to push Honda for a higher buyout premium.

• Timeline: A final merger agreement is expected by June 2025.

What does this mean for dealers? If the deal goes through, we could be looking at new brand strategies, possible lineup consolidations, and a global shake-up in supplier relationships. Stay tuned.

Renault’s Filante: The EV That Skipped Leg Day

Renault also dropped a stunning concept car that looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie. The Filante Record 2025 is a single-seater EV built for efficiency records rather than speed, because apparently, setting range records is the new flex.

• Weight: Just 2,200 lbs, and half of that is its 87-kWh battery.

• Tech: Steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire—no physical connections between controls and wheels.

• Design: Think Batmobile meets high-fashion runway.

• Goal: Beat efficiency records set by a German team that squeezed 1,599 miles out of 15.5 kWh last year.

Why should dealers care? This isn’t a production car, but Renault’s innovation in ultra-lightweight EVs could trickle down into real-world models, setting the stage for longer-range, more efficient electric vehicles.

Renault + Volvo’s EV Van Play: Meet Flexis

Renault isn’t just making wild concept cars—it’s also serious about commercial EVs. In a joint venture with Volvo and French logistics giant CMA CGM, Renault launched Flexis, a new European electric van brand set to deliver next-gen fleet vehicles starting next year.

• 800V platform: Faster charging—20 minutes to 80%.

• B2B focus: Targeting fleet operators with smart, connected vans.

• Lineup: Step-In (urban delivery), Panel Van (compact workhorse), Cargo Van (modular last-mile delivery).

• Production: Renault’s Sandouville plant in France.

What’s the play here? While this is a European launch, it signals a growing trend of legacy automakers getting serious about electric commercial fleets—something U.S. dealers should watch closely. The demand for electric work vans is surging, and Renault is positioning itself ahead of the curve.

So, what’s up?

Renault is maneuvering like a grandmaster—leveraging its stake in Nissan, pushing futuristic EVs, and building commercial electric fleets. If Honda seals the deal with Nissan, expect brand strategies to shift. If Renault’s ultra-light EV tech finds its way into real cars, range anxiety could take a backseat. And if Flexis' electric van strategy pays off, the work-truck game might be in for a shake-up.

Sources:

• REUTERS: “Renault seeking to maximize value of Nissan shares in Honda merger, says source”

• InsideEVs: “Stunning Renault Filante EV Concept Was Built To Set Efficiency Records”

• CarScoops: “Renault And Volvo Joint Venture Unveils Three New Electric Delivery Vans”

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