Renault would consider UK car production with bigger market share

Renault has left the door open to having a manufacturing footprint in the UK in the future - but several steps stand in the way before that can ever be realised. Speaking at a wide-ranging monthly media briefing, Renault Group CEO Francois Provost also called on European regulators to freeze all regulations for the next 10 years in order to bring new car prices under control and stop European-produced models becoming unaffordable for buyers. On the UK, Provost said that the group's current lack of production footprint in the country did not mean there was "no ambition" for that change in the future, although for now he considers the UK to be very much part of Europe from a manufacturing and regulatory standpoint. The UK question was asked of Provost in the context of Renault's partner brand Nissan doing a deal to manufacture Chinese cars from the brand Chery in Sunderland, and whether that UK capacity was something that Renault would consider. He didn't answer the Sunderland point directly, but did highlight several steps that stand in the way before the day ever comes of a British-built Renault. First is Renault's current size in the UK, which Provost said would need to grow for the firm to ever consider having a base here. "I consider our market share [in the UK] too low," said Provost on Renault's current 3.17% market share in 2026 to date, adding that the opportunity was there to grow further. Another immediate hurdle is defining Europe's relationship with China and navigating a path through that as a priority, in the context of the major disruption China is causing the European car industry. To Provost, this means encouraging China "to invest deeply Europe, and in the supply chain", including in manufacturing. While that plays out, Provost still views the UK as part of the European ecosystem, and will happily export the likes of the Renault 5 into the UK from France as it has done with its models in modern times. More broadly on China, Provost said that this encouragement in China was a more important task than pushing or protecting any notion of being made in Europe by Europe. But he said that the high price of locally produced cars was something that European legislators could control and that more and more requirements being placed on cars is leading to spiralling prices. "Freeze all regulations for 10 years and work to decrease price for European citizens," was Provost's clear message to European regulators to that end.

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Renault would consider UK car production with bigger market share

Group boss wants bigger UK footprint and calming of industry turmoil before considering UK as factory location

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Renault would consider UK car production with bigger market share

Group boss wants bigger UK footprint and calming of industry turmoil before considering UK as factory location

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