Renault is preparing more than 20 new models that will each be developed in less than two years in one of the most ambitious projects as western carmakers turn to fewer components and artificial intelligence to match the engineering speed of Chinese rivals.
The French group and other legacy carmakers from Volkswagen, Nissan to Stellantis are tearing down vehicles made by BYD and other Chinese carmakers, hiring Chinese engineers and learning from their joint venture partners in China to compete against an influx of new products that are cheaper and yet equipped with more advanced software.
What sets it apart is its ability to leverage its smaller scale to be nimbler to adapt to market changes, building a continuous flow of new electric vehicles in half the time it historically took to build a car. While other non-Chinese carmakers have announced similar ambitions, they have yet to implement the speed promised by Renault.