Lotus and Renault Group’s Alpine unit have stopped collaborating on a joint sports activities automotive however haven’t dominated out future tie-ups, Lotus stated.

Renault in 2021 introduced the collaboration with Lotus on an electrical platform for the A110 sports activities automotive alternative, which was anticipated to look by 2027. 

“We have now determined to not progress with the joint growth of a sports activities automotive for Alpine. This can be a mutual determination reached amicably,” Lotus stated in an emailed assertion to Automotive Information Europe on Monday.

An Alpine spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for affirmation.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that Renault was contemplating utilizing its personal expertise to develop future Alpine fashions fairly than working with Lotus.

Nevertheless, Lotus, which is majority owned by China’s Geely, hinted that the 2 firms might collaborate on different future fashions. “We have now constructed a robust relationship between the 2 firms and can proceed to debate different alternatives,” Lotus stated on Monday in its assertion.

Renault and Geely are collaborating in different ventures, together with a combustion-engine firm referred to as Horse and manufacturing of automobiles at Renault’s manufacturing unit in Busan, South Korea. 

Alpine wants premium electrical platforms on which to construct bigger SUV fashions aimed toward world markets, together with the U.S.  

The sports activities automotive model has aspirations to promote two fashions within the U.S., a midsize full-electric SUV and a bigger mannequin beginning in 2027 or 2028. “The U.S. is the principle vacation spot for these vehicles,” he stated earlier this yr.

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi beforehand stated that Geely is the “most pure” companion for the platform in a name with journalists in January.

Lotus is searching for companions to scale its premium electrical platform used for the Eletre massive SUV in addition to future sedan and SUV fashions. 

Lotus stated it remained “totally dedicated” to its electrical sports activities automotive, codenamed Sort 135, regardless of Alpine’s exit.

Future Alpine fashions shall be electrical.

The primary to be launched would be the Renault 5 Alpine, a “sizzling hatch” model of the approaching Renault 5 small EV, within the second half of 2024. It will likely be adopted in 2025 by a sporty compact SUV, tentatively referred to as the GT, which could have a “bespoke” design and can use a extremely modified Renault-Nissan platform, doubtless CMF-EV.