FRANCE / RankWire.AI / – Renault Group announced plans to invest more than €10 billion in France over the next five years, according to Chief Executive François Provost on October 3. The investment will primarily target the development of electric vehicles and more budget-friendly models. In 2025, Renault manufactured approximately 500,000 vehicles domestically, with expectations to increase production by at least 25% in 2026. Provost emphasized that the investment hinges on stable social and political conditions in France. This move reinforces the company’s ongoing shift toward electric manufacturing at its French facilities.
Since 2021, Renault has allocated €13 billion toward transforming its French sites and expanding its electric vehicle operations. In July, the company highlighted that it had surpassed one million electric vehicles designed and produced in France since 2010, with around 600,000 of those coming from ElectriCity, its electric industrial hub located in northern France. Renault currently employs nearly 39,000 workers across the country and states that its French operations generate about 35,000 indirect jobs within its supplier network.
Renault’s manufacturing network in France includes assembly plants in Douai, Maubeuge, Dieppe, Batilly, and Sandouville. Supporting these are mechanical and industrial sites in Cléon, Ruitz, Le Mans, and Flins, all contributing to electric vehicle production. The company asserts that each French site plays a role in its electric transition. For example, Douai produces the Renault 5 E-Tech electric, while Maubeuge manufactures the Renault 4 E-Tech electric. The group also produces electric light commercial vehicles at Maubeuge, Sandouville, and Batilly.
Record Market Share for Electric Vehicles in France
In September, electric cars accounted for a record 42% of new passenger car registrations in France. During that month, 156,629 new passenger vehicles were registered, reflecting an approximate 12% increase compared to the same period last year. Battery electric vehicles made up about 31% of registrations during the first nine months of 2026, compared to roughly 18% in the previous year. Meanwhile, hybrid vehicles maintained a 43% share in September, narrowly surpassing fully electric models.
Renault’s forecasted increase in production coincides with a notable rise in electric vehicle registrations across France. In July, Renault announced plans for an additional €13 billion investment in France under its futuREady initiative, contingent upon favorable conditions. This follows the €13 billion already invested in the country since 2021. Provost’s recent remarks indicate that planned investment over the next five years exceeds €10 billion, aligning with Renault’s current five-year commitment to its French operations.
Renault Broadens Electric Manufacturing Capacity in France
By July 2026, ElectriCity’s facilities in Douai and Maubeuge had produced a combined total of 600,000 electric vehicles. The Renault 5 E-Tech electric model surpassed 100,000 units produced by the end of 2025. Maubeuge also manufactures the Renault 4 E-Tech electric. Renault’s lineup of electric commercial vehicles includes models such as Kangoo, Trafic Van, and Master E-Tech, all assembled in France. Between 2022 and 2025, ElectriCity created 700 permanent jobs, with an additional 550 temporary workers added at Douai by July.
The investment plan extends the ongoing expansion of Renault’s electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem in France. Since 2021, the company has invested €13 billion into its domestic electric vehicle value chain. Its 2026 production forecast aims for at least 25% growth from the roughly 500,000 vehicles produced in France last year. Provost emphasized that the latest commitment will focus on electric vehicles and more affordable options. This announcement coincides with battery electric cars achieving their highest monthly market share in France to date.