Renault’s plans for electric vehicle production in Spain are taking shape. The French automaker intends to accommodate three new models at its Palencia plant, including two fully electric series and one range-extender model. So far, Renault has been manufacturing its electric vehicles in France.
Speculation had already emerged in recent months that Renault was considering Spain as a production location for some of its battery-electric passenger cars. Now, Josep María Recasens has provided further details.
The President of Renault Group Spain reportedly presented the company’s industrial plan during wage negotiations with trade unions. Recasens confirmed that three new models are planned for the Palencia plant, including two fully electric models and one range-extender version. However, the implementation of this plan depends on reaching an agreement with the trade unions, which is still pending.
Here’s what is confirmed: Renault currently produces compact and mid-size models at the Palencia plant, but only as plug-in hybrids. Specifically, the Renault Austral, Espace, and Rafale are manufactured there. The Spanish plant was opened by the manufacturer in 1978.
Renault Spain has also revealed key details about the electrified models planned for Palencia: La Tribuna de Automoción reports that these will include the second generation of the Scenic E-Tech, the battery-electric successor to the Rafale, and a range-extender version of the Scenic. These models are set to be produced from 2028 on the new platform, RGEV Medium 2.0, which the Renault Group introduced two weeks ago as part of its FutuREady strategy plan.
Next step in electric technology
Unlike Renault’s current electric platforms, the RGEV Medium 2.0 is an 800-volt architecture designed to underpin vehicles from the B+ to D segments. According to Renault, the platform is so flexible that it supports all body styles, from saloons to SUVs and vans/MPVs. Additionally, Renault announced two weeks ago that the platform will enable “ultra-fast charging in just ten minutes” by 2030.
The battery for the RGEV Medium 2.0 features a cell-to-body architecture with a 70 % packing efficiency. The battery pack is expected to require 20% fewer components and to be compatible with prismatic, blade, and pouch cells, the latter being highly unusual for cell-to-body concepts. Renault has not yet disclosed the targeted energy content for these battery packs.
The range is expected to reach up to 750 kilometers under the WLTP cycle for the fully electric versions. The platform will also support range-extender powertrains, which could achieve up to 1,400 kilometers in range with emissions of less than 25 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. This explains why the Scenic with a range extender will also be based on the RGEV Medium 2.0.
When these passenger cars begin production in Palencia in 2028, they will reportedly be the first models based on the new platform. If the timeline holds, the current Scenic will be replaced relatively quickly, as the first-generation Scenic E-Tech was only introduced in 2024. As it stands, the model will be succeeded after just four years.
Adjusting the strategy
Currently, all of Renault’s battery-electric cars are still produced within the ElectriCity production network, established in 2021, which combines the French plants in Douai, Maubeuge, and Ruitz. Maubeuge serves as the competence center for light commercial vehicles, such as the Renault Kangoo, while battery-electric passenger car models like the Renault 4, Renault 5, and Scenic E-Tech are produced in Douai.
The small Renault Twingo E-Tech, however, will soon be manufactured in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, so Renault’s exclusively French production of battery-electric cars will already soon be a thing of the past.
François Provost took over as CEO from former Renault chief Luca de Meo last year and has since been realigning the group’s strategic direction. Provost has already scaled back the costly motorsport activities of the Alpine brand, which were expanded under de Meo, and plans to fully reintegrate the spun-off electric vehicle division Ampere back into the group.
At the end of last year, he also halted most of Mobilize’s car-sharing projects and reintegrated the previously independent unit, along with its remaining activities, back into the group.
Changes are also underway at the joint venture for connected electric vans, Flexis (a collaboration with the Volvo Group and logistics provider CMA CGM). Renault intends to take over the venture in its entirety, pending regulatory approval. The agreement between Renault, Volvo, and CMA CGM should be concluded by the end of the first half of 2026.
