A few weeks ago, Renault presented its EV plan for Ampere, with no less than seven new electric vehicles in the pipeline. The Twingo ‘Legend was most noticeable, ‘ the all-new successor to the current Twingo Electric. Rumors have it that it will have a twin brother from Smart (#2) and be the base for the electric Dacia Sandero in 2028.

In September, the French specialized portal L’Argus reported on the upcoming Smart #2, which will be launched on the market in 2025 as the successor to the Smart Fortwo.

Teaming up to cut costs

To offer the future electric Twingo for less than €20 000, as promised, Renault will produce it together with Smart, just like the current generation. This is because Renault will not be able to achieve its price target on its own. “Talks are underway with partner manufacturers about cost sharing,” Renault boss Luca de Meo is quoted as saying.

L’Argus claims that the Twingo and the Smart will use the AmpR Small platform (formerly CMF-BEV) and be produced together at the Slovenian plant in Novo Mesto from 2026. The upcoming electric Dacia Sandero could also use this platform starting in 2028. At the moment, the claims in the L’Argus report have been denied by Renault.

The Geely link

The current Twingo was developed with Smart and is similar in many respects to the  Smart Forfour, with the rear engine concept originating from the Smart cooperation.

This cooperation was also a child of the ‘bonne entente’ between the bosses at the time, Carlos Ghosn (Renault) and Dieter Zetsche (Mercedes/Smart). Since then, a lot has changed. Smart has gone from being a pure Mercedes brand to a joint venture between the Stuttgart-based company and Geely. Ghosn is gone at Renault and was finally replaced by Luca de Meo.

Recently, there have been direct links between Geely and Renault: Geely is to be brought on board as a partner for Renault’s combustion engine division, ‘Horse’ (as a counterpart to the electric division Ampere).

Even more recently, the Chinese manufacturing group acquired 34% of Renault Korea Motors and wants to have the Polestar 4 manufactured there. Geely’s own SEA electric platform is too large and expensive for a small electric car, such as a successor to the Fortwo, so a small electric car platform from Renault would be convenient. Wait and see.