Mercedes Benz Group has decided not to participate in Renault’s FlexEvan electric project and will instead concentrate on developing its own premium electric vehicle VAN.EA, according to insiders familiar with the situation.
The FlexEvan project, slated for launch in 2026, is being developed for the Renault and Nissan brands. Sources suggest that Renault Trucks, a subsidiary of Sweden’s Volvo (VOLVb.ST), may also join the project.
A Mercedes spokeswoman confirmed that the company has no plans to introduce a mid-sized or large van on a different platform than VAN.EA. Renault declined to comment on the matter.
After a decline in demand for the diesel engines supplied by Renault to Mercedes and the termination of their joint project on Twingo-Smart cars, the two companies now only have one ongoing collaboration—the small Citan van, which is about to release its first electric version.
Renault has long been eager to expand its van cooperation with Mercedes but has been unsuccessful in doing so. “For light commercial vehicles, most of the cooperation with Mercedes has already been accomplished,” said one source.
Under the leadership of CEO Luca de Meo, Renault has been actively seeking partnerships beyond its traditional alliances with Nissan and Daimler, which were strongly advocated by former CEO Carlos Ghosn.
At present, no specific projects between Renault and Mercedes are under consideration. However, a third source mentioned that potential incentives like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and similar measures in Europe could lead to collaboration between the two companies for the sharing of manufacturing facilities.
