France - The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has revealed new plans for the production of vans in the country. Specifically, €450m (US$393m) is being spent over the next five years to make the next-generation Renault Kangoo family at the Renault Maubeuge plant, where the Mercedes Citan van is currently built.
The new Nissan NV250 will also be made at Maubeuge alongside the Kangoo, as it shares the same platform. The facility will be expanded and, in 2019, 200 additional workers will be hired. As a result, it will become a ‘small van center of excellence’ for the Alliance.
Three hours east, Renault’s Sandouville plant will house production of a Mitsubishi vehicle based on the same platform as the Renault Trafic. It will be exported to Australia and New Zealand.
“Groupe Renault’s global van expertise is driving synergies across the Alliance to benefit all our customers. The Maubeuge and Sandouville plants provided the most attractive solution thanks to their competitiveness and ability to leverage Alliance common platforms. This year, Groupe Renault has announced a total investment in France of €1.4 billion to support two pillars of growth: pure electric and light commercial vehicles,” commented Carlos Ghosn, CEO and chairman of the Alliance.
Renault is also hoping to grow in the light commercial vehicle in China. Along with its local partner Brilliance Automotive, the OEM recently signed a strategic agreement with Chinese officials from Liaoning province, which is situated in the northeastern part of the country. From here, the companies will produce three new light commercial vehicles.
