Renault-Nissan and Dongfeng agree joint venture to develop electric vehicles in China

The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Dongfeng Motor Group have formed a new joint venture to co-develop and sell electric vehicles in China.

The new joint venture, eGT New Energy Automotive Company, or eGT for short, will focus on the core competencies of each partner and will “harness the full potential of the Renault-Nissan Alliance electric vehicle leadership”, according to the companies.

It will also combine the resources of DFG in the new energy industry, to meet the expectations of the Chinese market. 

eGT will design a new EV with intelligent interconnectivity, that will be in line with the expectations of Chinese customers.

It will be jointly developed by the Alliance and DFG on an A-segment SUV platform of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

It will draw on the global leadership on EV technologies and cost-effective car design experience from the Alliance, and the competitive manufacturing costs from DFG.

Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, says: “The establishment of the new joint venture with DFG confirms our common commitment to develop competitive electric vehicles for the Chinese market.

“We are confident to meet the expectations of the Chinese customers and to strengthen our global electric vehicle leadership position.”

Zhu Yanfeng, chairman of Dongfeng, says: “This project is the result of a joint effort to develop electric vehicles for the Chinese market, by the ‘Golden Triangle’ formed by Dongfeng, Renault and Nissan, with an innovative business model.

“We expect to meet the transformation trend of the market in China; where cars are becoming light, electric, intelligent, interconnected and shared. This is also testimony of a deepened and strengthened strategic cooperation between the three parties.”

Renault, DFG and Nissan have signed an agreement to set up the new joint venture. Renault will hold 25 percent of eGT, Nissan will hold 25 percent and DFG the remaining 50 percent.

The newly formed eGT is planned to be based in the City of Shiyan, Hubei Province in central China.

The electric vehicle will be produced at the Dongfeng plant of Shiyan which has a production and sales capacity of 120,000 vehicles a year. Start of production of the new EV is forecast in the year 2019.