EU elections: Liberals and Greens make big gains

Via Euronews: European elections 2019: Big gains for Liberals and Greens in first parliamentary results projection

Read more at:
https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/24/european-elections-2019-latest-updates-and-your-guide-to-understanding-how-they-work

Auto Industry; Merger between.Fiat Chrysler and Renault

Renault and Fiat Chrysler to announce merger talks: sources French and Italian-US auto giants Renault and Fiat Chrysler are set to announce talks on an alliance, with a view to a potential merger, informed sources said on Sunday.

Read more at: 
http://www.france24.com/en/20190526-renault-fiat-chrysler-announce-merger-sources-france

Global Automobile Industry: Carlos Gosn chairman - Nisan, Renault, Mitsubishi arrested on fraud charges

Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn arrested over 'misconduct' -

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46259420

EU Car Industry Goes Electric and prices are dropping: Netherlands looks to ban all non-electric cars by 2025 - by S. Hinckley

VW E-GOLF Electric

By 2025, the Netherlands may only allow electric vehicles on the road.

A majority of elected officials in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Parliament, supported a motion proposed by the Labor Party (PvdA) to ban all diesel and petroleum cars from the Dutch market starting in 2025. If enacted, this proposal would allow existing fossil fuel-powered cars to stay on the road until they died, but when it comes to new sales, only electric cars would be permitted.

"We are ambitious, perhaps other parties are less so," PvdA leader Diederik Samsom told the local NL Times.

Renault Zoe  - Electric

While it is still unclear whether or not the motion will pass, some electric enthusiasts see the proposal as progress all the same. This law would not only affect Dutch drivers, but would also require more electric vehicle output from car manufacturers, and potentially destigmatize electric vehicles as a niche purchase.

"One big thing that's preventing more people from buying [electric cars] is awareness – people just don't know about them," Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America, tells The Christian Science Monitor in a phone interview Thursday. "It is a pretty big shift for how you think about your car."

Fiat -500 Electric

But this proposal doesn't mean that the Netherlands is a model of energy efficiency – yet. Rather, it's one of the most carbon-intensive countries in the European Union, according to a 2015 study by Deloitte. Natural gas and petroleum make up the majority of the Netherland's energy resources at 41 and 42 percent respectively, with solid fuels coming in third at 10 percent and finally renewable energies making up five percent of the overall energy mix.

In 2012, the transportation sector consumed the most energy of all sources, constituting 29 percent of all consumption in the Netherlands.

In the United States, by comparison, transportation represents 27 percent of the country's consumption, according to a 2015 report from the Energy Information Administration.

BMW -i3 Electric

This isn't the first time that the Netherlands has announced an ambitious energy-saving goal in transportation technology.

The Dutch energy company Eneco, partnering with VIVENS rail companies, announced a plan in 2015 to make a fleet of trains powered entirely by wind energy within the next three years. And for almost a year now, the Netherlands has boasted the world's first solar road, a bike path made of solar panels that generates enough electricity to power a small home for a year.

The Netherlands has also announced plans to pave roads with recycled plastic, which they market as durable and low maintenance, with a smaller environmental impact than asphalt production.

Mercedes B-Class Electric

And while these proposals may be more experimental, advocates say electric vehicles have real potential.
"For people who are aware [of electric cars], there are a few myths," Mr. Levin says. Primarily, many people have the misconception that electric vehicles are expensive, slow, unsafe, and inconvenient.

"They are not fancy cars for rich people – there are many affordable ones. And if you compare apples to apples, the total coast of ownership is very competitive," he explains.

Along with these myths, there are also a lot of positives that gas or diesel-powered cars don't experience. "Apart from any environmental benefits, they are a pleasure to drive, there is tremendous power," he says. "And maintenance is low – there is no engine, so if you change the brakes and batteries, nothing really could go wrong."

Charging is easy, he adds; it can be done at home overnight. "People worry about running out of power, but the [drivers] that run out of power are the same ones that run out of gas."

EU-Digest

Renault teases a mysterious new concept, promises to be an F1-inspired

Renault has released the first teaser image of an upcoming concept that will be unveiled at their Valladolid plant on April 25th.

Little is known about the model but Renault says it will feature muscular styling and "impressive performance credentials." The company also hinted the concept will provide a "bridge between the world of Formula 1 and that of electric vehicles."

The concept was apparently developed by Renault Sport and will feature a window that provides a glimpse at the inner working of the car.

Read more: Renault teases a mysterious new concept, promises to be an F1-inspired EV

European Auto Industry: Renault CEO: Carmakers must push outside Europe

The European car market is going to be tough for five more years, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn predicted Tuesday, and the only way for struggling carmakers to survive is to push into other markets.

Europe's carmakers are finding it harder to recover from the collapse of the car market in 2008 than some of their rivals in the U.S. and Asia. Europeans are buying fewer new cars as their economies grow weakly, or not at all. On top of this, automakers are struggling with idle production lines and overcapacity.

Building a car in Europe is more expensive than in many other parts of the world thanks to rigid labor agreements that drive up wages and benefits. Those same agreements also make it difficult to transfer jobs elsewhere.

Read more: Renault CEO: Carmakers must push outside Europe | Boston Herald

European Automobile Industry: Renault Set to Revive Alpine Brand to Challenge Porsche

Renault SA (RNO), which is losing sales faster than any other European car maker, is pinning a turnaround in part on the revival of a sports-car brand that’s been dormant for almost two decades.

The plan relies on a partnership with Caterham Group, a British manufacturer of offbeat track cars that typically have exposed front wheels and roll bars rather than roofs. For enthusiasts of Renault’s mothballed Alpine marque, the key factor is just getting the brand back on the road.

“Alpine fans have been waiting for this for 20 years,” said Gerard Bailly, 60, a brasserie owner in Dole in eastern France who has two Alpine cars and runs a club for the brand. “Of the 35 people in my club, at least half will buy it.”

Renault, which also makes budget Dacia vehicles, is shifting upmarket, mimicking the strategy of Volkswagen AG. (VOW) Europe’s biggest automaker relies on Audi for 48 percent of operating profit, even though the upscale brand accounts for just 14 percent of deliveries. Renault’s goal is to carve out a niche in the luxury-car market, which could in turn give its mass-market models an edge.

“It’s a good idea to introduce Alpine as there will be a halo effect” for Renault’s other models, said Neil King, an automotive analyst at research company Euromonitor International.

The move follows similar steps by PSA Peugeot Citroen (UG) and Fiat SpA (F) to attract wealthy buyers. With auto demand in Europe contracting for the fifth straight year to the lowest level in 17 years, mass-market carmakers are looking for ways to boost revenue as the effects of the debt crisis weigh on demand.

Read More: Renault Set to Revive Alpine Brand to Challenge Porsche - Businessweek

Automobile Industry: Renault wins RAC's Future Car Challenge in Britain

French automaker Renault can celebrate a victory of sorts on UK soil after its Zoe all-electric car won the Royal Automobile Club's (RAC) Future Car Challenge, which also included hybrids, hydrogen-powered cars, diesel cars and other "green"-ish vehicles.

Renault joined automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, General Motor's Vauxhall unit, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover on the 63-mile trip from Brighton to London and won the competition for using the least amount of energy among production cars. Other victors in various categories included the Vauxhall Ampera (the sister car of the Chevrolet Volt), the Mercedes-Benz E300 Hybrid and the Jaguar XJ_e.

Renault debuted the production version of the Zoe at the Geneva Motor Show in March, saying at the time that the car would retail in the low $20,000 range after government incentives, but that's not including the electric batteries. Those lease for about $100 a month. The car has a single-charge range of about 130 miles.

Read more: Renault wins RAC's Future Car Challenge in UK

Auto Industry: Renault, Qualcomm test wireless EV charging

Renault Fluence Z.E. electric sedan

Renault will join forces with Qualcomm in a London trial of the US company’s wireless electric vehicle charging technology.

The two companies said the purpose of the trial will be to see whether Qualcomm’s Halo technology is commercially viable and can be used in electric vehicles built by Renault and other carmakers.

The French automotive group is rolling out a growing range of EVs and last month repeated that it wants to build up expertise in the entire EV value chain – from technical architecture to motors and batteries.

Anthony Thomson, Qualcomm’s vice president of business development and marketing, said the cooperation between the US mobile technology and Renault gives a boost to its efforts to promote wireless charging for the industry.

Read more: Renault, Qualcomm test wireless EV charging - automotiveIT International

Renault spy case not the fault of any country: France

Renault claims to have become a victim of a complicated case about an industrial spy system. Previous week, the carmaker, partially in the possession of the French government, suspended three executives after an internal enquiry about the alleged theft of secrets from its electric vehicle event.There is much suspicion now on the Chinese companies, despite Beijing having largely protested its innocence.

For more:: Renault spy case not the fault of any country: France | French Tribune

Renault: Zoë Electric Car to be Made in France

arlos Ghosn, Chairman & CEO of Renault, declared after meeting the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, on January 16, “Renault is a French company, a socially responsible citizen, attached to its industrial and technological roots. This is one of the reasons why we decided to produce Zoë, the core of Renault’s Electric Vehicle range, in the Flins plant in France, near our 10,000 engineers, starting in 2012.”

“No decision had been taken concerning the production location of the next Clio in 2013. I confirmed to the French President that we will produce the Clio 4 in Flins, with a double sourcing in Bursa, Turkey. The future of the Flins plant is guaranteed and employment will be maintained at term.”

For more: Renault: Zoë Electric Car to be Made in France | The Global Herald

EU to quiz France over pressure on Renault

AFP

"EU to quiz France over pressure on Renault

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

BRUSSELS — The EU competition watchdog said Thursday it would seek explanations from France about its pressure to prevent car maker Renault from moving production of its Clio models to Turkey.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said she had instructed her office to contact the French authorities to seek explanations after they sought to pressure Renault not to shut down factories at home."

Bloomberg.com: China Bans Some Renault Models, Citing Safety Issues - by Laurence Frost and Steve Rothwell

For the complete report from Bloomberg.com click on this link

China Bans Some Renault Models, Citing Safety Issues - by Laurence Frost and Steve Rothwell

China, the world’s biggest auto market, banned imports of some models of Renault SA vehicles, saying they don’t meet national safety standards. The French company said the vehicles in question were damaged in transit. Cars exported to China by the French company pose “serious potential safety risks,” the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said today. It said Renault should examine its quality-control measures and take steps to ensure the safety of its products. The Laguna, Scenic and Megane models are affected by the ban, which came into the effect on June 4, the statement said. Renault spokeswoman Gita Roux said China’s concerns arose from problems with the transport and storage of a limited number of cars and that there are no issues connected to manufacturing.

Automobile: Renault Says EV Cost Will Equal Diesels

For the complete report from the Automobile Magazine click on this link

Renault Says EV Cost Will Equal Diesels

French carmaker Renault will build electric versions of three of its vehicles - and after government incentives are taken into account, all three will cost the same as their diesel equivalents, the company says. "We will launch EV van and car versions of the Kangoo in 2011," said Renault UK's fleet director, Keith Hawes. "However, the first Renault EV will be based on the Megane saloon, due in 2011.

Renault hopes that 15 percent of its global sales will be electric cars by 2015, and views the EV market across Europe expanding from tens of thousands of units by the time the Megane sedan launches to 300,000 by 2014. According to Car, Renault wants to be the de facto choice for EVs like Toyota's Prius is for hybrids. While Renault doesn't sell cars in the U.S. (yet), it has a business partner who does: Nissan. Nissan and its Infiniti luxury brand have been aggressively talking up its electric plans - and Renault's big push for EVs in Europe may very well help Nissan bring its plans for EVs in the U.S. to fruition as well.

BalkanInsight.com - Strike Ends At Romania’s Renault Plant

For the complete report from BalkanInsight.com click on this link

Strike Ends At Romania’s Renault Plant

Employees at Romania’s Renault-owned Dacia carmaker have ended their three week strike. After many rounds of negociation, Dacia`s administrators offered a rise of Lei 300 (€ 85) to be paid to workers from the period dating from 1 January 2008 and an additional Lei 60 (€ 17) to be paid from from 1 September. Every employee will get a bonus of at least Lei 900 (€ 257) annually.

The North Bay Nugget - EU- French Car Industry: Louis Renault - by Steven Reive

For the complete report from The North Bay Nugget click on this link

The North Bay Nugget - EU- French Car Industry: Louis Renault - by Steven Reive

Louis Renault; Of all the brilliant people who acquired patents for inventions and built empires, he was one of the most successful, but also one of the most tragic. Born in February 1877 to a wealthy family of Paris merchants, Renault was the last of five children but the first one interested in all things mechanical. He could wrap his mind around any idea. Electricity and engines were his passion and, during a time of hectic technological change, he was on the cutting edge. He was intuitive and practical. It was obvious he was different.

Renault failed his school entrance exam but by the time he turned 20 he had converted his De Dion-Bouton tricycle into a small, four-wheeled vehicle. The "direct drive" followed, the first gearbox that instantly eliminated the transmission chains and cogs that had been used until then. A year later, on Christmas Eve, Renault was so confident his new invention would work, he bet a group of friends he could climb the 13-degree slope of the Rue Lepic on the way to Montmartre, the highest hill in Paris. He made the climb and took cash deposits for 12 orders. Within a few months, Renault had established a patent for the direct-drive system. Within a decade, every manufacturer was using it.