“Anything electric (Renault Group) builds in right-hand drive we will have our hand up for.”
So said Renault Australia General Manager, Glen Sealey, speaking to CarsGuide at a recent preview of the brand’s pure-electric Megane E-Tech SUV, due for local launch in the fourth quarter of this year.
Sealey said, “We see the shift to EV in the Australian market. But at the same time pricing is high”, noting this isn’t the brand’s first experience with electric vehicles.
Renault Australia offered the city-sized Zoe EV hatch, initially to selected fleet customers in 2017, and to private buyers from 2018.
However, in late 2020 the cute but pricey ($50K) five-seater was retired from local sale in the face of slowing demand and stricter Australian Design Rules relating to side-impact crash protection.
At the time company executives also cited a lack of state or federal incentives for EV buyers as an impediment to the car’s success.
The compact Kangoo E.V. van, Australia’s first mainstream electric commercial vehicle, was also in market from late 2020 to early 2022.
And now, in the face of a rapidly changing market landscape, Mr Sealey confirms that as well as the Megane E-Tech, the Australian operation (run since mid-2021 by independent importer-distributor Ateco Group) has a multi-faceted approach to electrification.
Light commercial vans
The new third-generation Kangoo is scheduled for local introduction in the third quarter of this year, with the pure-electric Kangoo E-Tech as part of the line-up.
On the broader Kangoo range, Sealey said, “It’ll be a good product, and enquiry is very solid.
“Old Kangoo had a terrific life for 10 years, or so. But by the end it was relatively basic. The new model is a step up. It’s a sophisticated car, significantly upgraded, and it’ll have a different positioning,” he said.
The Kangoo E-Tech, in L1 Compact and longer L2 Maxi Pro form, is powered by a single synchronous electric motor sending 90kW/245Nm to the front wheels via a single-speed reduction gear auto transmission. Checkout our preview.
Worth noting French rival Peugeot has confirmed its similarly sized e-Partner EV van will arrive locally in the first half of the year; the brand’s first fully electric vehicle to be sold in Australia.
On the larger Trafic E-Tech, Sealey said, “We’d like to bring in an electric version. The products exist. It’s being able to get onto the development train.”
And the jumbo-size Master E-Tech? “We’re keen for an electric Master. The battery size works well in Europe, but not here. We’ll probably wait for the next version.”
Renault 5
Unveiled in early 2021, the Renault 5 Prototype concept is an ultra-cool, pure EV take on the brand’s iconic R5 city hatch from the 1970s and ’80s.
Sealey sees the car as “a terrific take on a retro vehicle” and said, “There is significant interest from us.”
He added, “I think it would work well here. If they make it RHD we’ve got our hands up. The question then is, will (Group Renault) make an additional investment in complying with ADRs?”
Prospective timing for a production version of the car is 2025/26.
Alpine
Renault’s performance-focused subsidiary Alpine confirmed it will deliver three pure-electric models – a sports coupe, hot hatch (likely based on the R5) and an SUV from 2025-’26.
Mr Sealey said, “I’d love it earlier than that. As quickly as I can get it. We’re very in tune with the team at Alpine.”
He added, “We’re very excited about Alpine’s all new product plan, and think it will work really well in Australia.”
Keyword: Watts up at Renault?! Renault Australia powers ahead on electric cars through pure-electric vans, ultra-cool retro R5 and Alpine performance