Renault's plan surprises the market, its best-selling car will never be electric

At the Munich Motor Show, where each manufacturer competes to showcase its latest battery prototype, Renault dropped a bombshell: the Clio will not follow that path. "The Clio is not an electric vehicle and will never be," stated Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of Renault and director of growth for the Renault and Dacia brands.

The executive explained that Renault's B segment is divided like a chessboard: the Renault 5 and Renault 4 will be the pioneers of electric development, while the Clio and Captur will remain as hybrid alternatives. A strategy that, according to Cambolive, responds to the needs of a very versatile European clientele.

"In a thermal market that will likely be lower, we will probably sell as many Clios as last year, around 300,000 units"

"We have four vehicles in the B segment that we have decided to position extremely complementarily", argues the French executive. "The Renault 5 and Renault 4 are our pioneers in electric development. The R5 first, which breaks the glass ceiling of the transition to electricity. And a Renault 4 that follows, but with an electric market that is still in its infancy in Europe."

"Then we have the duo Clio/Captur. The Clio mimicking the Renault 5, the Captur the Renault 4", adds Cambolive. "Ultimately, this allows us to meet the needs of a very versatile European clientele, as they are both fleets and individuals. These four vehicles have completely different positioning, designs, utilities, and customer combinations."

A bet for balance

The sixth generation of the Clio, manufactured in Bursa (Turkey), definitively abandons diesel and will be offered with a new 1.2 TCe three-cylinder engine with 115 hp, paired with a manual transmission or the renewed EDC dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The first deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2026, with order openings in October 2025.

Renault also seeks to maintain a high resale value and affordable prices. "We have worked on every detail to ensure that the vehicle and its monthly payment remain affordable", emphasizes Cambolive, aware that the Clio is key to retaining customers in Europe and strengthening the brand in international markets.

"In a thermal market that will likely be lower, we will probably sell as many Clios as last year, where we sold around 300,000 units. The Clio is not an electric vehicle and will never be", he insists.

Hybrid as a flag

While other manufacturers bet everything on electric, Renault prefers a mixed approach. The Clio will continue as a "hybrid model with different cost bases" that, in the words of its director, "meet other needs." A decision that surprises in times of energy transition, but shows that not all of the European market is ready for an electric leap without a safety net.

Finally, Cambolive has pointed out the keys to the growth of the Renault Group in the face of a future as complex as that posed by the transition to electric cars and the current geopolitical scenario. A vision that completely aligns with the recently pointed out by the new CEO of the French firm, François Provost.

"Growth does not mean pushing volumes, but paying special attention to our international development", and also paying special attention to customer loyalty and the victory index. This also means going together between brands," he concludes.

Fuente: Automobile-magazine.fr