Renault will manufacture two electric cars in Spain with a range of up to 750 km and a charging time of 15 minutes.

Renault has announced an investment of 600 million euros in its Spanish plants in Palencia and Valladolid for the 2026-2030 period as part of its fifth Industrial Plan. According to La Tribuna de Automoción, the facilities will be upgraded to produce five new models; additionally, a new battery assembly line will be added in Valladolid.

Currently, Palencia assembles the Austral, Espace, and Rafale models, while Valladolid produces the Captur and Symbioz. Initially, these last two models will receive significant updates to remain on the market for a few more years, with their design likely to resemble that of the sixth-generation Clio, which shares its platform and mechanical components with them.

Palencia, on the other hand, will undergo a profound transformation as it will be equipped with the new RGEV Medium 2.0 electric platform, designed for compact and mid-size electric vehicles. This represents the group’s most advanced architecture, featuring an 800-volt system compatible with ultra-fast charging (vehicles based on this platform can go from 10% to 80% charge in about 15 minutes, a time frame that will be reduced to 10 minutes by 2030).

Initially, the first electric vehicle to arrive at this factory in Castile will be the new Rafale (2028), which is set to become the company’s flagship model in Europe. This SUV coupe, measuring around 4.75 meters in length, is expected to offer a range of up to 750 km according to WLTP standards; it will also feature Renault’s third-generation wound-rotor motors, which promise better efficiency than the current second-generation engines.

Renault Will Also Produce the Next Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in Palencia

In 2029, the successor to the Scénic will be introduced, likely retaining its predecessor’s name. It will measure approximately 4.50 meters in length and benefit from the same technological advancements as its larger sibling model. Renault plans to go all out with this vehicle, as it will compete in the most important segment of the European market—the C-SUV category.

What will be the fifth model? It appears to be a major redesign of the Austral hybrid, which will coexist for an undetermined period with the similarly sized Scénic. Additionally, everything suggests there will be an intermediate option between the Austral hybrid and the electric Scénic: a version of the Scénic with an extended range option. This technology might also make its way to the Rafale.

We would also need to add the next generation of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which will still be based on the Scénic. "Spain is a strategic country for the group, not only in terms of production and sales but also due to the ecosystem created around its own operations, including suppliers of components, energy, and mobility solutions. In a turbulent time for the industry, the Renault Group demonstrates its commitment to the factories in this country and the continuity of our operations, thanks to the expertise of our teams, social agreements, and institutional support. Our ambition is to remain a leading manufacturer in Spain and across Europe," says Christian Stein, CEO of Renault in Spain.

Source | La Tribuna de Automoción