Renault subsidiary, The Future is Neutral, has launched a new initiative to remanufacture three key components of electric drivetrains: electric motors, power electronics, and batteries. This move allows Renault customers to choose between new original parts and remanufactured components, which are up to 30 percent cheaper.
The Future is Neutral, established in 2022 with a focus on recycling, aims to lead the European circular economy for motor vehicles by 2030. The company’s new after-sales service will offer reconditioned components for Renault Group’s electric vehicles, including electric motors for models like the Zoe, Twingo E-Tech, Kangoo E-Tech, and Master E-Tech, reusable power electronics for the Zoe and Kangoo E-Tech, and 2nd life batteries for the Zoe, Twingo E-Tech, and Megane E-Tech.
The company plans to achieve a production capacity of “more than 3,000 reconditioned components per year” for electric vehicles starting this year at its Flins site in France. Additionally, Renault Group is implementing an “industrial and collaborative system for circular economy solutions” from Flins to Bursa in Turkey and Seville in Spain, reflecting four strategic pillars: Re-trofit, Re-energy, Re-cycle, and Re-start.
In autumn 2022, The Future is Neutral was introduced as a company aiming to use old cars as a source of raw materials for new cars, not only within Renault but for the entire industry. The company aims to significantly increase the use of recycled automotive materials in new vehicles and play a leading role in battery recycling in closed loops.
Renault’s CEO, Luca de Meo, described The Future is Neutral as a further step in Renault’s commitment to the circular economy, stating, “Our goal is to take recycling into a new era and become the European leader in the circular economy.”
With over eleven million vehicles reaching the end of their life cycle in Europe each year, Renault’s initiative underscores the importance of recycling in the automotive industry, particularly amid climate change and resource scarcity challenges.
