Renault electric car likely to enter China after 2014

Shanghai November 1 (Gasgoo.com) Renault Greater China has officially started its pure electric vehicle introduction project, and is likely to import an electric car to the Chinese market after 2014, Chen Guozhang, the company's CEO said in a recent interview with the Beijing Times.

Next month, Renault will launch its first volume-produced Fluence all-electric sedan in Brazil, where the French automaker and its local partners have established charging stations using the Quick Drop system, which enables the electric vehicles to swap batteries in three minutes, or be fully charged in 20 minutes. 

In accordance with the cooperation agreement between Nissan and Renault, Nissan will principally target the Asian and North American markets with its electric vehicles while Renault's will mainly present in Europe, but that does not mean Renault electric vehicles will not expand into the Asian market. Actually, the possibility for Renault to introduce its electric vehicles based on the same technology platform with Nissan's is very good as Nissan's electric vehicle project progresses rapidly in China, Chen said.

"Although imported models are not eligible for the highest subsidy of 60,000 yuan ($8,900) granted by the Chinese government, there is still a market for Renault electric vehicles- the high-end imported vehicle market," Chen said.

At present, Renault Greater China has received orders for dozens of is electric vehicles, but conditions for introducing electric vehicles to China are not mature yet, Chen said, adding that relevant plans are expected to be formulated by the end of this year.