Groupe Renault has made a big decision. The brand is leaving the partnership it has in China with Dongfeng. You will not see the Renault brand name again in China.
Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company is a joint venture that Renault has had with Dongfeng since 2013, although the partnership stemmed from the Sanjiang Renault joint venture, which was established in 1993. The Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company partnership will change drastically.
Renault is transferring half of the partnership’s shares to the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng, which means Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company is no longer officially building and selling Renault products in China. The partnership is currently selling the Renault K-ZE, Capur, Kadjar and the Koleos in China. No more Renault passenger cars in China, no longer under Renault’s flag anyway. Groupe Renault does indicate that it will focus on the EV market. That would mean that the K-ZE could continue to exist. That car will therefore continue to exist, but no longer as Renault. Vencuia, a brand of Groupe Renault and Dongfeng, continues to sell that car as E30. Renault will therefore continue to work on EVs in China, but the electric models will no longer be carried under the Renault flag either.
Groupe Renault says it will continue to focus on the production of commercial vehicles. At the end of 2017, Renault bought 49 percent of the shares of the Chinese brand Jinbei from Brilliance Auto. This partnership mainly produces vans and passenger buses will continue to do so. Renault says it will continue to invest in Jinbei and that by 2023 the Chinese market will be enriched with five completely new models. Jinbei also plans to sell its products outside China in the future, but Renault and Brilliance are not yet disclosing any information about this.
Renault sold less than 180,000 cars in China last year. The target was no less than 800,000 pieces.