Renault 5 E-Tech electric: accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in Europe
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A familiar design, practical technologies, competitive pricing, and local production: Renault 5 E-Tech electric brings together all the ingredients needed to speed up Europe’s shift to electric vehicles. By reimagining an iconic car for the 21st century and making strong industrial choices, this new model aims to make electric cars both more accessible and more desirable.
Renault Group
To democratize electric mobility, it’s crucial to offer vehicles that fit seamlessly into everyday life, striking the right balance among cost, performance, ease of use, and emotional appeal. As Fabrice Cambolive, Renault brand CEO, points out, the move to electric hinges as much on rational factors—price, range, charging convenience—as it does on emotional ones sparked by a car’s silhouette or eye-catching design:
Renault design and Ampere engineering in pursuit of excellence
Renault 5 E-Tech electric isn’t just any car. It symbolizes the Group’s transformation into a next-gen automotive company—with a new organizational structure, new ways of working, and the brand’s shift to electric mobility.
To bring this uniquely designed production model to market, matching the show car presented in 2021 while delivering the best performance-to-price ratio, the design, engineering, and product teams adopted an inverted development approach—“from sketch to street.” Typically, designs must adapt to technical constraints. Here, however, engineers developed a dedicated platform for small electric vehicles—AmpR Small—tailored to a strong design vision, maximizing interior space while combining cutting-edge electric and digital technologies. The result: optimized cabin space, a flat floor, a lighter structure, and cost savings, all without compromising on essential technology for the customer.
A smooth, intuitive electric experience
This emphasis on design and efficiency goes hand in hand with a practical, service-based approach: simplified charging solutions, integrated digital services, and intuitive interactions with the vehicle. The teams selected the most relevant innovations designed to make everyday electric driving easier.
Renault 5 E-Tech electric is equipped with the latest generation of OpenR Link, featuring Google built-in and around fifty apps to automatically schedule charging, select the most suitable charging station, or update routes in real time. This intelligent system takes shape through a virtual companion - “Reno” - an interactive avatar that responds to the driver’s voice commands. As for charging, Renault 5 E-Tech electric benefits from the Mobilize ecosystem, with solutions like Charge Pass for access to approximately 700,000 charging points across Europe, and Smart Charge to schedule lower-cost off-peak charging times.
Made in Europe, for Europe
Renault 5 E-Tech electric is built for a Europe in transition, where charging infrastructure and social expectations are converging towards greater electrification. To bring this vision to life, Renault Group favors local production and short supply chains: Renault 5 E-Tech electric and its battery are assembled in Douai, while its motors are manufactured in Cléon. By producing in France, close to the European market, the Group can better control costs, stay close to customers, and reduce its environmental footprint.
“In the face of significant change in our industry, this car paves a new way for Renault. It’s at the heart of the battle to reinvent European industry against competition coming from the east and the west. With this vehicle we’re proving that production in Europe, in France really is possible!”
Luca de Meo
CEO Renault Group
Renault 5 E-Tech electric, an ingenious and competitive electric city car conceived in France for Europe, stands out as a heart-stirring choice. It offers an enthusiastic and committed response to today’s technological, social, and environmental challenges in mobility.