Renault commit to the future with Dacia & Alpine included

Good news on a Friday afternoon is always welcomed, and Renault are heading into the weekend with a clear strategy for the group's future.

In May this year, Renault announced that it needed to recoup €2-billion after posting heavy losses. This led to the cutting of 15,000 jobs globally and key figures stepping down from prominent roles.

This restructuring brought Renault's recently revived performance brand, Alpine, into question. The Alpine brand currently only producing one model, the A110 sports-car.

Sales of the A110 have slowed after an initial surge of interest when the car was launched in 2018. With Renault looking to make cuts, Alpine's presence seemed precarious.

The Alpine A110

Today however, Renault have committed to the future of Alpine, including it in it's new strategy plan, where it will focus on four key brands. Renault Automotive, Dacia, Alpine and New Mobility.

Renault Automotive is obviously the companies core brand, with Dacia being it's more affordable, budget off-shoot. Alpine will now be the group's sole performance brand, so any sporting or performance variants from the sister brands will likely be badged as Alpine models.

The fourth brand in the new strategy, New Mobility, will focus on the changing landscape of transport, looking at alternate forms of propulsion and autonomy.

Next year's Dacia Spring EV

Renault CEO, Luca de Meo, who will head-up the Renault Automotive side of this new strategy said of the restructuring plan, "The company needs to change its ‘game module’ and move from a search for volume to a search for value and profitability."

"The organisation around four strong brands and large cross-functional functions would make it possible to work in a simpler way, more oriented to the markets and customers, with a team spirit, to seek the best possible result”. he continued.

Dacia will now be headed by Renault sales and marketing EVP, Denis Le Vot. New Mobility will be piloted by Renault Deputy CEO, Clotide Delbos; and Cyril Abiteboul, current head of Renault Motorsport, will lead Alpine in this new venture.

Cyril Abiteboul

Abiteboul is also the head of the Renault F1 team, which feeds speculation that the racing outfit could be re-branded as Alpine.

With former Renault F1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso returning to the squad in 2021, the famous blue and yellow livery he and Renault used during their successes of 2005 & 2006 could make a return. (Blue being the Alpine brand colour and yellow that of Renault).

Renault and Fernando Alonso during the past success in F1

The future looks promising for Renault.