During the last Beijing Auto Show, we witnessed an event that could mark a significant turning point in the automotive sector: Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo had strategic meetings with partners Geely and Dongfeng, as well as with leading figures such as Li Xiang and Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi.
Renault CEO meets Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun: will there be a collaboration?
These meetings have fueled speculation about a possible collaboration between Renault and Chinese electric car companies, particularly with Li Auto e Xiaomi Cars. De Meo has previously expressed the importance of establishing cooperative relations with Chinese companies, recognizing their superiority in battery production and the development of electric vehicles and intelligent connectivity software.
De Meo's approach is clear: Europe must learn from China. The proposal to adopt common standards, which would allow manufacturers to share around 70% of automotive technological content, is inspired by Chinese success stories. Furthermore, the idea of creating green economic zones in Europe, with greater subsidies and investments and tax exemptions on capital gains, could represent a further step towards sustainable innovation.
Renault's cooperation with Chinese automotive companies is nothing new, having already collaborated with Geely on the development of thermal and hybrid systems, and with Google and Qualcomm on intelligent cockpits. However, the prospect of collaboration with Li Auto and Xiaomi Auto opens up new frontiers, especially in the field of smart electric vehicle technology.
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Francois Provost, director of purchasing and cooperation at Renault, revealed on LinkedIn that de Meo has had important conversations with industry leaders, including existing partners and new players such as Li Auto and Xiaomi. This dialogue could herald technical cooperation that, according to de Meo, is essential for Europe, which must balance protecting its own market with learning from Chinese manufacturers.
Finally, de Meo's stance against the EU's compensatory investigation into Chinese electric cars is emblematic. His “Letter to the European Union” expresses clear opposition to closing the European market to China, considered the “worst possible response” at a time when collaboration and mutual learning are key to technological advancement.
