Renault Korea’s growth underpinned by expertise in vehicle redesign

Renault Group CEO Francois Provost speaks during a media roundtable in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Renault Korea

Renault Korea will capitalize on its expertise in integrating technologies from partner carmakers and redesigning new models tailored for the local market, as part of its core strategy for sustainable growth here, Renault Group CEO Francois Provost told reporters during a media roundtable in Seoul Friday.

He said the sequential success of the carmaker’s two hybrid cars — the Grand Koleos SUV and the Filante crossover — proves its resilience and clearly demonstrates the firm’s strength in redesigning vehicles for Korean consumers.

Provost has a deep understanding of the Korean market, having served as CEO of then-Renault Samsung Motors for five years from 2011.

“I deeply think that we have the unique capacity to master the use of assets and technologies coming from partner firms, and create great cars for the Korean market,” Provost said. “Now, it is coming from Geely.”

Geely is a Hangzhou-based Chinese multinational automaker.

The Grand Koleos SUV, which has driven the carmaker’s successful rebound in Korea, is built on the Chinese automaker’s compact modular architecture platform. The Filante crossover also shares the same platform.

Renault Group CEO Francois Provost poses after a media roundtable in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Renault Korea

“For the Grand Koleos and Filante, I think it was important to dedicate resources first to restart in the Korean market, and my main expectation with the two models is to regain momentum in the Korean market,” he said.

Driven by robust sales of the two models, Renault Korea’s sales are on the rise. In March, the carmaker sold a total of 8,996 vehicles, up 9 percent from a year earlier. The Filante crossover drove the sales growth, with sales of the new model reaching 4,920 units last month. The vehicle made its debut in early March, and the carmaker started delivering it to customers in mid-March.

This is not the first time Renault has achieved strong success through a tech partnership with other carmakers. In the 1990s and 2000s, SM5, produced by Renault Samsung, became a mega-hit sedan in Korea after being developed on the same platform as Nissan’s Maxima and Teana.

Renault Korea's Filante crossover / Courtesy of Renault Korea

The top executive from the French carmaker has also held a series of closed-door meetings with Korean partners during his rare Seoul visit.

“We have strong worldwide partners here in Korea,” he said. “Renault works with LG Energy Solution for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and LG Electronics (for infotainment systems). POSCO is one of our core suppliers, not only for the high-tech steel, but for some other types of technology.”

Renault Korea also pledged to make concerted efforts to embrace the upcoming era of electrification by utilizing its key production line in the nation’s southeastern port city of Busan. The plant produces not just the carmaker’s strategic hybrid lineups, but Polestar 4 EVs on a contractual basis.

Renault Group CEO Francois Provost, second from left, answers questions from reporters during a media roundtable in Seoul, Friday. On the right is Renault Korea CEO Nicolas Paris. Courtesy of Renault Korea

Renault Korea CEO Nicolas Paris said the carmaker will step up its investment in Korea to turn the manufacturing facility into a key base for its production of a broad range of eco-friendly cars.

“One of the unique features of Renault Korea is our ability to design, develop, manufacture and commercialize vehicles,” the Renault Korea head said.

“We will continue to enlarge our offer to Korean consumers in eco-friendly cars, whether it will be hybrids, fully electrified cars or plug-in hybrid cars. These investment will enhance our competencies in developing and manufacturing vehicles in Korea.”