Renault is going to cut the model range considerably. The brand new CEO, Luca De Meo, announces that the focus will be on the C segment. That seems to herald the end for several models.
The coming years will be of vital importance for Renault, now that it has come into heavy weather, partly due to the corona crisis. To Luca De Meo to put things in order. In conversation with Automotive News the Italian explains that he immediately ‘attacked’ Renault’s product portfolio. Which means; the broom goes through it. “In a short period of time, we have changed product planning substantially, so that we put our money into segments that are growing and where profit can be made.” De Meo specifically mentions the C segment as the most interesting category. Striking, given that Renault achieves enormous successes especially with the B-segment Clio.
However, according to De Meo, it is ‘dangerous’ to depend for the most part on smaller cars to get your sales volume. There is a lower profit margin and that is an important reason that various manufacturers no longer see much benefit in the A segment. So there is a good chance that the Twingo has been removed from the schedule. Also higher in the range at Renault we have to count on the departure of several models. The Espace, Scénic and the Talisman are on the trail to say the least. They may all no longer be on long-term planning.
Although the Clio (and of course the Captur) will continue to bring in the money, De Meo mainly wants a significant reinforcement in the class above. A new Mégane must therefore really become a success number and the successor to the Kadjar must do considerably better than it is now. Volkswagen, Ford and Peugeot, among others, have come a long way from Renault in that segment and Renault hopes to find the connection there again, thanks in particular to substantial investments in that class.
In the form of the Morphoz Concept, we have already received a small harbinger of what will happen at Renault in the compact middle class. There will probably be two crossovers / SUVs. One that you should see mainly as a crossover based on the Mégane and also a somewhat higher placed, larger SUV. Presumably, the latter will be the new flagship of Renault and you can bet that it also appears as an EV on the scene. After all, Renault is preparing the new modular CMF-EV platform for several models.