The ties between Renault and Mercedes-Benz are old. In 2010, Groupe Renault and Daimler signed an industrial and technological partnership agreement. Financial as well, with cross-shareholdings of 3.1% each. This cooperation has been democratized since 2011 supply of diesel and gasoline engines by Renault to his German colleague. Then they installed entry-level versions Class A, Class B, Class C, CLA and GLA. Even if the German has significantly reduced the offer, it still uses certain engines from France. demonstrates Renault’s recent failures point to excessive oil consumption in the 1.2 TCe, which are still equipped with certain Mercedes models. At the electrical level, Renault also had it supplied since 2018 there The R80 engine is his Zoé at Daimler to equip… Smart Fortwo and Forfour!

From Smarts to Utilities

Because yes, since 2014, Renault and Mercedes have joined forces to jointly develop an A-segment city car. Twingo in Renault and Forfour in Smart, both were then gathered in Novo Mesto in Slovenia. there two-seater Fortwo abbreviated was also part of this triptych. Now they are available only 100% electricwhile the Fortwo (the Forfour was phased out in 2021) moved production to China.

They were not the only feat of Mercedes and Renault, but also of both manufacturers partners in the small utility market. Most of the projects come mainly from Renault, which since 2012 has offered Mercedes the opportunity to take over the Kangoo’s bodywork and technical part. This is how Citan was born. In 2021, it was allocated to the second generation based on the new Kangoo. It is now called the Citan in utility, the T-Class in the (more luxurious) passenger version and EQT as an electric option.

Manage a FlexVan project?

A third partnership in the large van category is in the works. Renault Masterthe current one of which dates back to 2010, will be updated in a completely new version in 2024. It will installed on the common Mercedes Sprinter platform. As the electrification of commercial vehicles accelerates in Europe, Renault is currently working on this project FlexVandesigned to offer a wide range of electric vans and vans on the same basis.

Mercedes-Benz was supposed to be part of the projectbut according to Reuters sources, he will finally consider going on his own. In May of last year, the German group really presented theirs a new electric platform called VAN.EA. Scheduled for 2026, it will equip all medium and large vans. A strategy that goes hand in hand with her goals to increase electricity sales by 50% by 2030. Do these announcements (which have yet to be confirmed) mean the definitive end to the Daimler/Renault partnership until 2026? The question remains open.

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