Francois Provo, chairman of the Renault Group, said Renault Korea is a key hub for the group and should now consider full battery-electric vehicle production. He added that Renault will maintain strategic partnerships with Korean battery makers such as LG Energy Solution and will use Renault Korea to advance R&D in autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Provo underlined Renault Korea’s role at a media roundtable held April 3 at the JW Marriott Seoul.
“The Korean market may be limited in sales volume, but it holds far greater strategic value,” he said. “Renault Korea has distinct production capabilities for D- and E-segment vehicles that serve both the domestic market and exports, and that’s the role the group expects it to fill.”
He said Renault Korea’s biggest strength is its ability to assimilate and master technologies and assets from global partners, including the Renault Group and Geely. “The results are models like the Grand Koleos and the Philant, and those vehicles have once again demonstrated Renault’s capabilities in Korea,” he said.
Provo said it’s time for Renault Korea to consider full EV production. “Just as Renault is leading the EV trend in Europe, we plan to strengthen that foundation in Korea as well,” he said.
Pointing to the Busan plant’s export competitiveness, Provo noted it began producing Polestar models for the North American market last year. He said the company will continue to bolster EV development capabilities through an MOU with the city of Busan and will introduce the optimal eco-friendly vehicles at the right time — whether hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure battery-electric models.
On batteries, a core component of electrification, Provo said Renault will continue its long-standing cooperation with LG Energy Solution. “LG Energy Solution, with whom we’ve worked for many years, will remain a strategic battery partner for the Renault Group,” he said. “Our primary principle is to localize in Korea to build a competitive battery ecosystem aligned with our electrification strategy.”
Provo described Renault Korea’s central research center and other Korean teams as key assets for AI-based SDV development. “Renault Korea can serve as the group’s autonomous-driving development center because it dissects technologies and converts them into optimized solutions that deliver customer value,” he said.
Reporter Ham Bong-gyun
