New Renault 5 E-Tech: 400,000 vehicles/year or 100,000 vehicles/year in Europe?
- Renault presented the new R5 E-Tech (BEV sedan of the B segment) at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show. The essential question that arises is:
§ Will this new R5 be able to position itself as a mass vehicle, as the old R5s were: rates of 400,000 units per year reached for the R5 (1972-1984), then the Super 5 (1984-1996), and the Clio (rate of 400,000 units per year during its best years)?
§ Or will its volumes be around 100,000 vehicles per year, like those planned for the Zoé when it was launched (in fact this model sold 40,000 units per year on average)?
- At first glance, due to its engine and its price, the new R5 E-Tech does not directly replace the Renault Clio, a B segment sedan with a thermal or full-hybrid engine (HEV). Rather, it replaces the Renault Zoé, a BEV sedan from the B-segment with production stopping at the end of March 2024, but with greater ambitions thanks to a design inspired by the old Renault 5 launched in 1972. In fact, the replacement of the Renault Clio will be launched in 2026. It will receive thermal and full-hybrid (HEV) engines like today.
- Given that the Renault 5 E-Tech will be significantly more expensive than the Clio, it doesn’t target the same market. Inovev is therefore forecasting 100,000 sales in 2030 of this new model BEV, which marks a clear progress compared to the Zoé. It could reach 200,000 sales per year between 2030 and 2035. If it reached 400,000 vehicles per year, the volume recorded by the R5 and Clio during their best years, this should not be before 2035. It should be noted that the Inovev's forecasts for zero-emission vehicles in 2035 do not reach 100% of the market, as required by the EU regulation (Inovev analysis to come).
- Compared to the original Renault 5, the Renault 5 E-Tech is 42 cm longer (3.92 m instead of 3.50 m) and is much heavier (1,350 kg to 1,450 kg depending on the version, compared to 800 kg to 850 kg for the old R5). Based on the AmpR Small platform (ex-CMF-B EV), it will be produced at the Douai plant, alongside the Mégane E-Tech and Scénic E-Tech. Its electric motor delivers 95 hp (70 kW) with a 40 kWh battery, 120 hp (90 kW) with a 40 kWh battery and 150 hp (110 kW) with a 52 kWh battery. The 40 kWh battery allows a range of 300 km and the 52 kWh battery allows a range of 400 km.