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Renault Vehicle Innovation

Founded in 1988 and a 100% subsidiary of Renault Group since 2017, Renault Vehicle Innovation is a manufacturer of innovative alternative-energy vehicles. Specializing in the transformation and conversion of light commercial vehicles, buses, minibuses and trucks, the company provides its expertise to all automakers in the European market. Based in France, its R&D center and industrial expertise enable it to offer customized solutions, meeting the heavy mobility and light commercial vehicle needs of professionals. Contact@pvi.fr

  • DATE OF FOUNDATION: 1988, subsidiary of Renault Group since 2017 
  • COMPANY NAME: Renault Vehicle Innovation 
  • TRADE BRAND: PVI and its subsidiary ESCAL 
  • LEGAL FORM AND CAPITAL DISTRIBUTION:
    • Renault Vehicle Innovation: SAS (Simplified Joint Stock Company), with capital of €6 million, wholly owned by Renault Group 
    • ESCAL: SAS (Simplified Joint Stock Company), wholly owned by Renault Vehicle Innovation 
  • ACTIVITIES :
    • Heavy conversion of light commercial vehicles, buses, minibuses and trucks for various passenger and freight transport applications.
    • Conversion of light commercial vehicles and trucks to alternative energy sources: electric, plug-in hybrid, natural gas, or hydrogen, or towards autonomous mobility. 
    • Bodywork and maintenance of commercial vehicles, heavy equipment and special vehicles via its subsidiary ESCAL. 
  • STAFF: A team of about 100 people on site
  • FLOOR AREA: 45,000 m², including 15,000 m² covered
  • CERTIFICATION : ISO 9001

Research & Development in heavy and light mobility and energy conversion

The Renault Vehicle Innovation Research & Development team designs the transformation of commercial vehicles and trucks and their possible conversion to another energy source. It includes experienced project managers and design centres specialising in mechanics, electricity, electronics and software. Its vehicle prototyping and testing workshop enables innovations to be validated. Finally, a certification department ensures that vehicles comply with regulatory standards.

Personne travaillant sur devant des écrans d'ordinateur

Energy conversion and transformation of commercial vehicles and trucks

The production team converts commercial vehicles for specific applications (minibuses and chassis cabs) and installs alternative energy powertrains. To do this, it has assembly, painting, control & testing workshops to guarantee the quality of the vehicles produced. Finally, a parts store and logistics service support the manufacturing activity. 

Vue d'une Usine Renault de fabrication de véhicules utilitaires

Bodywork, maintenance and repair

The bodywork, maintenance and repair team offers a comprehensive service for heavy equipment and specialised machinery. With a bodywork workshop, a maintenance and repair workshop, an after-sales service platform and a dedicated spare parts store, the team guarantees a high-quality service. Mobile breakdown technicians are available to provide on-site assistance.

Camion Renault modifié par PVI

Products

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Renault Master Citybus E-Tech

Designed and manufactured in France, Renault Master Citybus is a 22-passenger city minibus (M2 segment, class A). With its latest-generation powertrain and battery, as well as its 16 driver assistance systems, it combines performance and safety. Based on a specific design with a low floor throughout, Renault Master Citybus guarantees accessibility and comfort for all. 

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Renault Master Shuttle E-Tech

Renault Master Shuttle E-Tech is a 14-passenger minicar (M2 segment, class B). Designed and manufactured in France, like Renault Master Citybus, it features the same integral low-floor architecture, with an interior layout specifically designed for class B vehicles. Equipped with the same latest-generation powertrain and battery, it also features 16 driver assistance systems. It is specifically designed for on-demand transport. 

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Renault Trafic Van E-Tech electric

After electrifying the Renault Master in 2018, Renault Vehicle Innovation has been developing, certifying and electrifying the Renault Trafic Van for the Renault brand since 2023.

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Renault Trucks D19 

Renault Vehicle Innovation is transforming Renault Trucks D18 (18 t) wide-track chassis into a D19 (19 t) narrow-track chassis for use as refuse collection vehicles in city centres. This is because waste collection operations require access to the most confined spaces: narrow streets, historic town centres, specific road surfaces, etc. 

Services

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After-sales customer service and spare parts

Our attentive after-sales service responds to the technical support needs of our customers and distributors. It provides all the information concerning our spare parts catalogues and price lists, as well as our repair manuals, detailing the associated labour times. It allows you to quickly obtain a quote and maintain constant dialogue with our teams. 

Our after-sales teams operate in France and Europe through our network of Renault Vehicle Innovation’s products distributors or through our team of highly qualified mobile technicians. 

After-sales contact: techline@pvi.fr 

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Maintenance contracts

Renault Vehicle Innovation offers a range of maintenance contracts tailored to customer needs: 

  • Preventive maintenance contract 
  • Extended warranty 
  • Full-service maintenance contract (preventive maintenance + extended warranty): complete peace of mind for the customer 

Quality

Renault Vehicle Innovation is ISO 9001 certified.  All our teams have acquired the skills needed to guarantee the quality of our vehicles. Their quality level is assessed at each stage of the manufacturing process, with enhanced control of the assembly process and delivered parts, and self-monitoring by each employee at their workstation. 

News

Renault Master Citybus E-Tech and Renault Master Shuttle E-Tech at Busworld Europe 2025

From 4 to 9 October 2025, Renault Vehicle Innovation will present its two new models at Busworld Europe, in a world premiere. Benefiting from all the strengths of Renault Master and a range of up to 400 km WLTP, this new electric mobility offering is dedicated to urban, peri-urban and rural passenger transport.

Learn more

Read the press release

Renault Trafic Van E-Tech electric

Renault Master Citybus E-Tech and Renault Master Shuttle E-Tech at Busworld Europe 2025 

From 4 to 9 October 2025, Renault Vehicle Innovation will present its two new models at Busworld Europe, in a world premiere. Benefiting from all the strengths of Renault Master and a range of up to 400 km WLTP, this new electric mobility offering is dedicated to urban, peri-urban and rural passenger transport. 

Find out more
Renault Trafic E-tech

History

Our flagship products :

Our key dates :

  • 1988: Design and industrialisation of Ponticelli Véhicules Industriels's first electric truck, powered by lead-acid batteries.
  • 1985-2000: Design and mass production of 4x4 vehicles (MK2 and B90), trucks (G220, Midlum GNV and KERAX), buses (TU35, MG36, SCOLER) and buses for CRS (PR8). 
  • 2000: The company becomes Power Vehicle Innovation.
  • 2000: Assembly of the first electric buses with nickel-cadmium batteries. 
  • 2010: Development of new powertrains with lithium-ion batteries for vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 27 tonnes. 
  • 2011: Launch of the C-LESS 27-tonne electric truck, designed primarily for household waste collection, as well as the OREOS 2X minibus and OREOS 4X midibus. 
  • 2015: Third generation of electric or rechargeable hybrid commercial vehicles using the latest generation of equipment and Li-Ion batteries: Maxity electric light commercial vehicle, 12m WATT bus equipped with supercapacitors allowing recharging at each bus stop. 
  • 2015: Manufacture of a hydrogen-powered vehicle, with the installation of a fuel cell on Maxity. 
  • 2017: PVI becomes Renault Vehicle Innovation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renault Group. 
  • 2018: First 100% electric Renault Master ZE, followed by the Renault Master E-Tech.  
  • 2022: Development and production of the first hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles: Renault Master H2-TECH van and Citybus H2-TECH. 
  • 2023: Development and production of Renault Trafic E-Tech electric van.
  • 2025: Renault Vehicle Innovation develops Renault Master Citybus E-Tech and Renault Master Shuttle E-Tech, that will be mass-produced and marketed from 2026 onwards. 

Contacts

Sales contact: contact@pvi.fr

After-sales contact : techline@pvi.fr

Spare parts contact : parts@pvi.fr

Recruitment contact : rh@pvi.fr

Renault Vehicle Innovation
ZI Rue de Maison Rouge
77220 Gretz-Armainvilliers, France
+33 1 64 42 14 00