Renault Geely: in Curitiba, the partnership becomes an industrial reality
Article summary
In Curitiba, Renault Group’s partnership strategy is taking very concrete shape. Just a few months after announcing its cooperation with Geely, the Ayrton Senna complex is adapting its production lines, integrating a new platform and preparing for the arrival of new vehicles. This transformation illustrates the flexibility of Brazil’s industrial base and its role in the Group’s international growth.
Key takeaways
The Renault-Geely partnership is becoming an industrial reality in Curitiba, illustrating the strategy of value-creating industrial partnerships. The Ayrton Senna complex is integrating the GEA platform, paving the way for three vehicle launches: two Geely vehicles by the end of 2026, followed by a new Renault vehicle from 2027.
The agility of the Ayrton Senna complex’s industrial system enables it to quickly integrate new technologies and the production of new vehicles.
Responsible development is fully embedded in the site’s industrial strategy and day-to-day operations.
Located for nearly 30 years at the heart of the Group’s leading market in Latin America, the Ayrton Senna complex in Brazil stands at the intersection of several futuREady ambitions: accelerating the Group’s international growth in high-potential markets, developing value-creating partnerships and strengthening operational excellence.
Reflecting the Group’s pragmatic partnership-based approach outside Europe, the complex relies on a flexible, high-performing and responsible industrial system to support targeted partnerships, rapidly integrate new technologies and develop new vehicles for international markets.
Renault-Geely: the partnership enters its industrial phase
Announced in 2025, the partnership between Renault Group and Geely is now taking shape at the Curitiba plant. This cooperation is reflected in concrete industrial achievements, with the arrival of new vehicles and new technologies within the Ayrton Senna complex.
The site has already integrated the GEA platform, Global Intelligent Electric Architecture, Geely’s reference architecture for next-generation electrified vehicles. As the fifth platform used at the site, it further strengthens the complex’s industrial flexibility. Its integration paves the way for three successive vehicle launches. The first will be the Geely EX5 EM-i Super Hybrid, whose industrialization is already underway. It will be followed at the end of the year by the Geely EX2, a 100% electric vehicle.
Following the launch of these two vehicles for Geely, the Ayrton Senna complex will also produce a new Renault vehicle from 2027. Developed on the GEA platform, this future model illustrates the synergies made possible by the partnership with Geely and will enrich Renault Group’s product range in Latin America.
“More than launching new products, we are preparing our operations for the future by combining the strengths of the Renault and Geely brands to offer Brazilian customers state-of-the-art technologies produced locally and meeting the highest standards of quality and competitiveness, from flex-fuel internal combustion vehicles to hybrids, flex hybrids, and fully electric vehicles”.
The Ayrton Senna complex in figures
1998
Year of inauguration
more than 4
million vehicles produced
5,120
employees
The Group’s industrial partnership strategy
With more than 300,000 vehicles produced each year for partners across eight plants in five countries, Renault Group relies on the excellence of its industrial footprint to develop value-creating partnerships and strengthen its competitiveness. From Douai to Curitiba and Busan, Renault Group plants manufacture vehicles for Nissan, Mitsubishi, Ford, Volvo Trucks and Geely.
In Europe, Renault Group relies on the flexibility of its industrial system to attract partners, strengthen its competitiveness and accelerate the launch of new vehicles, while retaining full ownership of its assets and strategic control of its operations.
Internationally, Renault Group favors pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnerships to accelerate its growth in high-potential markets such as India, Latin America and Asia. The industrial partnership with Geely in Brazil is a perfect illustration of this win-win approach.
The performance of Industry 4.0 serving vehicle diversity
If the Ayrton Senna complex can integrate new vehicles and new technologies with such agility, it is thanks to the maturity of its industrial system.
Even before the integration of the GEA platform, the site was already producing six Renault models based on four different platforms. On the same lines, it is able to assemble vehicles featuring a wide range of powertrain technologies, from flex-fuel internal combustion engines to hybrid and electric powertrains. This ability to manage a high level of product diversity is a real industrial asset when expanding the portfolio of vehicles produced at the site.
To accommodate this new architecture, the teams carried out major facility transformations: adding new robots in the body shop, upgrading paint processes, extending assembly lines and integrating latest-generation ADAS validation equipment (driving aids).
The robustness of this production system also relies on a digital transformation that has been underway for several years. Thanks to the industrial metaverse, the site uses digital twins and analyzes several billion measurements from equipment and processes every day to improve quality, facility maintenance and operational performance.
This approach has earned it international recognition from the World Economic Forum as an “Advanced 4th Industrial Revolution Lighthouse”. The Ayrton Senna complex remains the only automotive plant in Latin America to hold this distinction.
« The integration of the GEA platform demonstrates the flexibility of our industrial operations and the ability of our teams to rapidly deploy new standards and technologies. This agility is the result of several years of continuous improvement, digitalization of operations, and skills development, enabling us today to welcome new projects within particularly short timeframes. »
Production at the Ayrton Senna complex
5
industrial platforms
(CMF-A, RGMP, B0+, LCV and GEA)
194,915
vehicles produced in 2025
6
models in production in 2025
(Kwid, Kardian, Boreal, Duster, Oroch, Master)
Industrial growth driven by responsible development
The industrial efficiency of the Ayrton Senna complex, partly driven by its flexibility, also involves evolving the industrial system while controlling its carbon footprint. This approach translates into concrete actions to preserve natural resources, reduce emissions and support the circular economy.
The complex is pursuing an ambitious decarbonization pathway. Since 2023, all its industrial activities have been powered by renewable solar electricity thanks to a photovoltaic park. This initiative prevents the emission of more than 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. In parallel, the use of biomass derived from wood waste avoids nearly 1,000 additional tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.
The teams are also working on operational energy efficiency, notably by gradually replacing LPG forklifts with electric equipment, which reduced LPG consumption by 80% between 2021 and 2025. These initiatives are complemented by responsible resource management, with 100% of industrial waste recovered through recycling, reuse or energy recovery solutions.
Beyond its sustainable development commitments, the plant also contributes to skills development and inclusion within local communities through initiatives led by the Renault Institute.
Environmental responsibility at the Ayrton Senna complex
100 %
photovoltaic electricity
Nearly 900,000 m²
of preserved areas in the Atlantic Forest
100 %
of industrial waste recovered and valorized
5 questions about the Ayrton Senna complex
01
Where is Renault’s factory in Brazil located, and which vehicles does it produce?
02
How are Industry 4.0 technologies used at Renault’s Curitiba plant?
03
Does Renault’s site in Curitiba have industrial engineering capabilities?
04
Can Renault’s factory in Brazil produce electric and hybrid vehicles?
05
Why is Paraná a strategic industrial hub for Renault Group?
The Ayrton Senna industrial complex is located in Curitiba, in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Inaugurated in 1998, it has produced more than four million vehicles. In 2025, its production lines manufactured six models: Renault Kwid, Renault Kardian, Renault Boreal, Renault Duster, Renault Oroch and Renault Master.
The Ayrton Senna complex relies on the digitalization of its operations, automated equipment and latest-generation validation technologies. To integrate Geely’s GEA platform, the site notably added new robots in the body shop, upgraded its paint processes, extended its assembly lines and installed validation equipment for advanced driver assistance systems.
The teams at the Ayrton Senna complex have the expertise required to quickly integrate new platforms, technologies and production methods. The recent adaptation of the facilities to the GEA platform illustrates this industrial engineering expertise.
Yes. The Ayrton Senna complex can assemble vehicles equipped with different powertrain technologies on the same lines: flex-fuel internal combustion, hybrid, flex-fuel hybrid and 100% electric. The integration of the GEA platform notably paves the way for the production of the Geely EX5 EM-i Super Hybrid, the electric Geely EX2 and, from 2027, a new Renault vehicle.
Located at the heart of Renault Group’s leading market in Latin America, the Ayrton Senna complex supports the Group’s international growth, the development of industrial partnerships and the launch of new vehicles. Its ability to produce multiple models, platforms and powertrain technologies makes it a strategic site for serving regional markets.
