Renault detailed the brand new software program structure of its future autos which it stated can be on par by 2026 with that of electric-vehicle trade chief Tesla.
The French firm, like most automakers, has been residing for months below the specter of common and drastic worth cuts from its U.S.-based competitor. In France, the listing worth of the Tesla Mannequin 3 now begins on the identical stage because the Renault Mégane electrical, round 42,000 euros ($46,318).
Renault CEO Luca de Meo acknowledged at a presentation that Tesla stays a “problem within the quick time period,” however he stated his firm won’t have interaction in a worth struggle on electrical autos.
“We do not need to do what we did previously, we need to promote our automobiles, we do not need to give away our automobiles,” Renault’s head of engineering, Gilles Le Borgne, instructed journalists and analysts on the identical occasion on Monday.
A “software-defined car” design can be on the coronary heart of Renault’s future electric-vehicle entity, referred to as Ampere, the automaker stated. Developed with Alphabet’s Google and Qualcomm, it should significantly cut back complexity by permitting to have simply 20 processors on board to run a automotive as an alternative of the at present required 100.
This can even enable for updates to be made remotely with out touching the {hardware}.
“That is comparable with Tesla, in 2026 they’ll have the identical method, they’ve the identical EV structure method,” stated Renault’s chief digital officer, Frédéric Vincent.
Le Borgne stated: “In 2026, we can be on the stage of Tesla” in software program outlined autos.” l
By making fixed updates of driving and infotainment options doable, the structure ought to enhance the resale worth of the automobiles, supporting the pricing energy of the corporate, and keep away from 1.5 billion euros of analysis & improvement (R&D) bills in a decade.
The entire price steadiness ought to nonetheless be impartial after taking into consideration the funding required for the brand new structure and the value of the extra superior processors put aboard, Le Borgne stated.
The Flexevan electrical van program for last-mile supply will inaugurate Renault’s new structure round mid-2026, adopted by the sporty Alpine model after which by all fashions of the Renault model.