The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Dongfeng Motor have established a joint venture (JV) to co-develop electric vehicles in China.
The new JV, dubbed eGT New Energy Automotive, will manufacture vehicles with zero-emissions. It will use the Renault-Nissan Alliance's expertise in electric vehicles and the resources of Dongfeng in the new energy industry.
Renault and Nissan will each hold 25% of eGT with Dongfeng holding the remaining 50%.
The JV plans to design and develop electric vehicles with intelligent interconnectivity. The new vehicle will be built on Renault-Nissan’s A-segment SUV platform.
The new company is expected have its headquarters based in the city of Shiyan, Hubei province in central China. At Dongfeng’s plant in Shiyan, every year about 120,000 vehicles are produced. Production of electric vehicles is expected to begin in 2019.
Renault-Nissan Alliance chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “The establishment of the new joint venture with Dongfeng confirms our common commitment to develop competitive electric vehicles for the Chinese market.
“We are confident to meet the expectations of the Chinese customers and to strengthen our global electric vehicle leadership position.”
Dongfeng chairman Zhu Yanfeng said: “This project is the result of a joint effort to develop electric vehicles for the Chinese market, by the 'Golden Triangle' formed by Dongfeng, Renault and Nissan, with an innovative business model.
“We expect to meet the transformation trend of the market in China; where cars are becoming light, electric, intelligent, interconnected and shared. This is also testimony of a deepened and strengthened strategic cooperation between the three parties.”
Recently, American automaker Ford signed a memorandum of understanding with Anhui Zotye Automobile to start a joint venture for the development of electric vehicles that cater to the vast Chinese market.
