Electric cars costing 25,000 euros are coming next year; those at 20,000 euros, on the other hand, only exist in PowerPoint presentations. Achieving such a price requires new approaches, and partnerships seem to be multiplying to move in this direction. The proof with this start of rapprochement between Renault and Volkswagen for the future electric Twingo and ID.1.
If the race for autonomy has kept electric car manufacturers busy in recent years, the price war now seems to be directing R&D budgets towards more accessible cars.
If the threshold of 25,000 euros will become concrete from 2024 with the Citroën ë-C3 and the Renault 5 E-Tech, the 20,000 euros mark seems to be the new Eldorado. The ë-C3 will arrive there in 2025 with a deflated battery and the Renault Twingo is promised at this price in 2026, while Volkswagen is also working on this objective with an ID.1 project. It is these two models that interest us here, since the German newspaper Handelsblatt informs us that a collaboration would be under study.
Geely out of the race?
What’s interesting about this rumor is that it chases another one. We also told you about it: rumors in the corridors told us that Renault had joined forces with Geely, a Chinese giant, to reach 20,000 euros… before Renault refuted.
Volkswagen would therefore also be in the race. Ultimately a rather logical choice, since the two manufacturers seek to produce accessible cars in Europe and they do not hesitate to join forces with other brands for various projects: Volkswagen with Xpeng, Renault with Polestar, in short, this partnership would be just one new one among many.
The milestone of 20,000 euros, a hell of a goal
Still, the idea of a partnership is only part of the ideas to get to this stage of 20,000 euros. Renault is therefore considering a global approach by chasing costs in all directions: the battery will in particular be at the center of all attention, with a reduced size and LFP (lithium – iron – phosphate) technology less expensive than those currently used. The industrial tool will also be reviewed from top to bottom.
This partnership could also allow Volkswagen to breathe, since the brand seems to have found itself stuck in a rather catastrophic situation in the field of electric cars. It remains to be seen whether it will succeed.