Renault Group and the industrial metaverse: the revolution of connected factories
We have entered a new era with our industrial metaverse: a real-time virtual replica of activities at the heart of our factories. Its primary goals are to produce faster, better, and more sustainably. This metaverse, built on real-time connectivity, is not only a groundbreaking management tool but also a significant competitive edge in the face of global competition.
The four pillars of our industrial metaverse
At Renault Group, the industrial metaverse is a pioneering innovation that reshapes the approach to automotive production. Structured around four key pillars, it integrates advanced solutions combining connectivity, digital modeling, ecosystem integration, and cutting-edge technologies.
It all starts with remarkable connectivity: today, all our workshops are connected through Wi-Fi or mobile networks, enabling around 15,000 pieces of equipment to generate and transmit over 3 billion data sets daily. These data power digital twins—virtual replicas of factories and supply chains—providing unprecedented oversight and optimization.
The metaverse also incorporates external information such as supply chain data, sales forecasts, quality metrics, and external variables like weather and traffic conditions. This creates a predictive and interconnected platform. Advanced technologies such as cloud computing, AI, immersive 3D, and our Self-Service Big Data platform further enrich this ecosystem, making every operation more agile, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
In practice, this means enhanced visibility across every production step, better responsiveness to unforeseen events, and a significant reduction in costs. Since its launch in 2019, the metaverse has driven over 300 projects, yielding €700 million in savings.
“With the metaverse, we can monitor in real-time how many parts have been produced, which parameters were used, and the energy consumed,” explains Éric Marchiol, Director of Industrial Metaverse & Quality. “This allows us to quickly adjust all parameters, even in the event of supply chain disruptions.”
Scaling the industrial metaverse across the Group
Renault Group embraced digitalization early, standardizing its data and developing proprietary technology. While others limit themselves to local experiments, the Group applies its vision at scale across all its factories.
“We’ve created a unified language for every type of equipment, whether it’s a robot, pump, or furnace. We’re the only ones to achieve this level of digital transformation across all sites and equipment,” says Éric Marchiol.
This expertise provides major competitive advantages: reduced production times for new technologies, energy savings, improved quality, and predictive maintenance. Additionally, modernized IT systems and the integration of technologies like AI and augmented reality open up promising opportunities, particularly for training and automated decision-making.
“By monitoring welding robots to predict failures, we also identified signals that allowed us to anticipate welding defects,” shares Éric Marchiol. “This ability to analyze and adapt is what sets us apart.”
An even smarter future
Renault Group aims to go beyond simulating reality. The goal is to achieve a level where digital twins of its factories can not only observe but also act in real time, thanks to ultra-connected systems.
“We are gradually modernizing our control systems by adding updated functions, which replace older ones once validated,” explains Éric Marchiol. “This robust technological solution ensures seamless continuity in production.”
The deployment of advanced AI and even more powerful platforms heralds a new era for the Group. These innovations are not limited to factories—they also enhance the day-to-day experience of teams, providing them with modern tools for improved responsiveness and greater comfort at work.
Renault Group demonstrates that industry and innovation can go hand in hand. By embracing digital transformation with ambition and pragmatism, we have already taken a step into the future.
