The Renault R5 E-Tech electric city car is competing for the mass European market against Chinese competitors by focusing on price and technological offerings, such as a digital voice assistant.
The Renault 5 E-Tech, priced at around 25,000 euros, is the first on a new electric car platform aimed at reducing costs and attracting "economical" consumers. The new version of the classic 1970s coupe can travel 400 km on a single charge.
Shipments of the R5 will begin in September, as reported by Bloomberg. It will compete with the Citroën ë-C3 electric car priced at 23,300 euros, produced by competitor company Stellantis NV. This car is a key step in Renault's current restructuring under CEO Luca de Meo, in which the company is reducing ties with partner Nissan Motor Co. and ceasing production of internal combustion engine vehicles.
In addition to price and software, the company has added some highlights to the R5 E-Tech, such as a wicker basket for baguettes, and the assembly and production of the batteries takes place in France.
The new platform has already helped reduce development time by a quarter. De Meo is also in talks with potential partners, such as Volkswagen AG, to collaborate on developing foundations for further cost reduction, as the industry strives to maintain its position against companies like BYD and the price wars initiated by Tesla.
For the R5, whose batteries will be produced in France from the middle of next year, 85% of the car will be made from recycled materials, and its batteries will be repairable. It is also equipped with a bidirectional charging device to feed electricity back into the grid. These measures can help reduce the operating costs of the vehicle, as electric cars have not yet lived up to expectations regarding low operating costs.
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