(Boursier.com) — CMA CGM Group has joined Flexis SAS founded on March 22, 2024 by Renault Group and Volvo Group, a joint venture dedicated to developing the “revolutionary” next generation of electric vans.
CMA CGM, through its PULSE energy fund, is taking a 10% stake in Flexis SAS and will invest up to 120 million euros by 2026. Volvo Group and Renault Group, which each hold 45% in Flexis SAS , plan to invest respectively 300 million euros over the next three years.
A joint venture of three champions in their respective fields to meet the need for electrified vans
Faced with climate change, the growing weight of regulations on CO2 emissions and the boom in e-commerce and associated logistics, professional customers are expressing new expectations in terms of electrified vans. The European market for these vehicles is expected to increase by 40% on average per year until 2030.
Quoting…
To meet this demand and lead the decarbonization of the transport and logistics sectors, Volvo Group, Renault Group and CMA CGM Group are creating Flexis SAS.
Bringing together three leading companies with the agility of a start-up, Flexis SAS combines the industrial expertise of world-class automobile manufacturers and the know-how of the number one automotive logistics company.
The three companies are renowned for their leadership in:
-electric vehicles and software, as well as the manufacturing of light utility vehicles for Renault Group,
-transport solutions and expertise in tailor-made services, uptime and productivity for Volvo Group,
-logistics, particularly for the automotive industry, and decarbonization of the supply chain for CMA CGM.
A new generation of light utility vehicles made in France
The vehicles will be assembled on a new “skateboard” type platform dedicated to 100% electric light utility vehicles which will offer great modularity for different body types at a competitive cost, and will offer real advances in safety.
Adopting the new connected electronic platform, the vehicle will include new functionalities for managing delivery activity and monitoring commercial performance, thus reducing the overall cost of use for logistics players by up to 30%.
Connected services will allow customers to have up-to-date vehicles throughout their life cycle. The van will offer exceptional compactness adapted to urban mobility, great versatility of use for tailor-made services and different battery capacities as well as the first 800 V architecture on the market for vehicles in this category.
The new generation of models will be produced in the Renault Group factory in Sandouville, an expert in the manufacture of light commercial vehicles, which will recruit 550 people over the next four years…