Renault Hits 1 Million EVs Made in France Since 2010

Renault just rolled its one millionth electric vehicle off French assembly lines, marking a transformation that started with a single bet back in 2010. What began with quirky models like the ZOE has grown into Europe's largest electric vehicle manufacturing hub, proving green technology and good jobs can grow together.

The numbers tell a story of commitment that goes beyond cars. Renault has poured €13 billion into French factories since 2021, with another €13 billion planned for the years ahead. That investment supports nearly 39,000 direct jobs at Renault and 35,000 more throughout the supply chain.

The heart of this electric revolution beats in Douai, a northern French industrial city where the Electricity manufacturing hub has produced 600,000 EVs in just five years. The site transformed from traditional automaking to become Europe's leading electric vehicle producer, capable of churning out popular models like the Renault 5 E-Tech at prices starting around €18,810.

That affordability matters. The Renault 5 hit 100,000 units by late 2025 and is on track for 200,000 this year, showing French consumers are hungry for electric vehicles they can actually afford. The factory added a night shift and hired 550 temporary workers since October just to keep up with demand.

Meanwhile in Maubeuge, where the electric journey started with the Kangoo ZE van in 2011, workers now build the Renault 4 E-Tech, France's bestselling vehicle in its class. The northern manufacturing region created 700 permanent positions between 2022 and 2025, with 300 more jobs coming by 2027.

Renault isn't keeping this success to itself. The French facilities now build vehicles for Nissan, Mitsubishi, and soon Ford, turning regional factories into a multi-brand European hub. The company has trained 53,000 employees through its Reknow University program, teaching skills in battery technology, artificial intelligence, and circular economy practices.

The Ripple Effect

This million-vehicle milestone ripples far beyond factory gates. Every electric motor built in Le Mans, every battery component from Cléon, every recycled part from the Flins Refactory keeps expertise and prosperity in local communities. Industrial regions that might have declined are instead hiring, training, and innovating.

The transformation shows that choosing sustainability doesn't mean sacrificing industrial strength. France is proving a country can lead in clean technology while protecting manufacturing jobs and building new skills for future generations.

Renault CEO François Provost calls it "collective pride" in teams, suppliers, and customers who believed electric vehicles could work at scale. Fifteen years ago, electric cars were a technological gamble; today they're an industrial reality that's remaking how an entire nation builds, works, and moves.

One million vehicles, 74,000 jobs supported, and a roadmap for making green manufacturing profitable and local.