Oh, how the tide has turned. Chinese companies used to partner up with European ones to get access to their technology, but nowadays, in the EV space, it’s exactly the other way around. For example, Renault today announced that it will develop the upcoming Twingo EV in partnership with an unnamed Chinese engineering company to “improve development lead time and costs,” according to a Renault spokesperson.
The Twingo should cost below €20,000 when it launches in the next few years, and Chinese companies’ expertise in developing cheap EVs is very obvious. BYD plans to offer its Seagull model for under €20,000 in Europe next year.
This partnership aims to teach Renault how to move more quickly on EV development, according to “people familiar with the situation.”. One of those people added that while engineering in China isn’t necessarily cheaper than in Europe, it’s where most of the current EV technology breakthroughs are coming from.
This comes after the news earlier this month that a partnership between Renault and VW to jointly develop an affordable version of the Twingo fell through. Following that, VW went its own way and developed a cheap EV by itself, while Renault turned to this yet-unnamed Chinese partner, although it now says this decision came independently of the VW fiasco.
The “styling” and “advanced engineering project” are being done in France, and production will be in Europe, according to the aforementioned Renault spokesperson.
The Twingo EV was first announced last year, and it’s most likely going to be built in Slovenia, where the current Twingo is made as well.
Read More: VW And Renault Cancel Plans To Develop An Affordable EV Together
