Renault sheds one of its most emblematic plants, but does so without losing a single job
Dumarey, who were already associated with the group through HORSE, has begun the acquisition process of the legendary plant in Viry-Chatillon, which has produced some of the best Formula 1 engines in history, now starting a consultation process.
The Renault group and Belgian propulsion systems specialist Dumarey Group announced on October 22 a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of Alpine Racing SAS, the legal entity that managed technical operations at the Viry-Châtillon plant. A strategic move that clears the clouds over the industrial future of the center and guarantees the preservation of the entire workforce.
This plant was the one that, until 2025, was responsible for the Formula 1 engine program of the Alpine team - also where the Renault engines were made with which Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Fernando Alonso won world championships, the Oviedo native as an official Renault driver and the rest when Williams and Benetton were in their golden years. In other words, a factory whose employees possess a ‘know-how’ of world-class technology.
Guaranteed employment and continuity for elite engineers
The operation includes the complete transfer of the plant workers to the Dumarey orbit, safeguarding an exceptional human capital that had accumulated months of uncertainty. This agreement affects solely and exclusively the facilities of Viry-Châtillon dedicated to the technical development of engines and the maintenance of Alpine in the World Endurance Championship, which they will leave after the last race of the year in Monza (as well as the Dacia Sandriders project in W2RC/Dakar). In other words, it has nothing to do with Alpine Racing Limited Formula 1 located in Enstone, United Kingdom, now with customer Mercedes engines.
Who are they?, many of you might ask. Dumarey Group is a holding founded in 1983 by Guido Dumarey with a solid track record in advanced engineering. The Belgian group, still controlled by the eponymous family, seeks to expand its business model by integrating world-class infrastructure that will allow it to accelerate the development of propulsion technologies, advanced electrification, and energy storage systems.
Dumarey, in full expansion
Dumarey (formerly PUNCH group) is in the process of expansion, as in March 2025 they acquired the Plymouth plant (Michigan, United States) which had previously been part of the MAHLE Group. In September of this same year, they completed another factory acquisition, this time that of AUMOVIO in Mechelen, Belgium, including its 300 employees. Essentially, it is one of the giants in technology and engineering solutions, both in general industry and in the automotive sector and even in the marine sector.
Among its technologies related to the engine world are its gear reduction mechanisms for hybrid car transmissions, planetary gears, synchronizers, fuel injection rails, and even electronic control units. They also have solutions for all types of engines, from a diesel engine (not only those in our cars but also related to construction and heavy machinery) to V8 engines.
Connection through HORSE
Dumarey currently has collaborations with manufacturers such as BMW, General Motors, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Tata, Mahindra, the gearbox reference ZF, and the Stellantis group - as well as various Chinese manufacturers such as Changan, Foton, or Maxus. Since HORSE is another of their clients, the relationship with the Renault group already existed beforehand, collaborating together in the development of the Euro7-adapted 2.0 four-cylinder diesel for front-wheel drive applications.
On one hand, this represents a change of direction for what was previously known as Hypertech Alpine. In September 2024, they announced, while they stopped using their own engines, that the future supercar of Alpine would be conceived here, but since then the situation has changed quite a bit - at the Paris Motor Show, they showcased two concepts, including the A310 Vision, but this one uses the known APP platform from the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
Dumarey, with an eye on racing
According to Alpine, Dumarey is interested in 'putting down roots' in motorsport, hence its interest in acquiring the Viry plant (without disclosing the amount of the operation), specialized not only in engine technology but also in high-level software, simulation, and testing - once the process is complete, all employees will be retained, now joining Dumarey. Let’s not forget that Viry is also where Nissan's headquarters in Formula E is located, now fully entering a new generation, the brutal Gen4.
Until now, Dumarey has focused much more on energy storage solutions than on elements of electric cars - although it had developed a KERS system, called F-Boost. Now they will have racing engineers who can not only continue their work but also carry out a task similar to how when Renault Sport engineers perfected engines that later arrived at the dealerships of the diamond brand.
* This news is an AI translation of the original content. Motenic.com is part of Motor.es.