Renault-Nissan braces for EV battle

September 16, 2013: Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has welcomed the challenge to its electric cars sales leadership by Volkswagen, following the launch of the VW e-Up and VW e-Golf at the Frankfurt motor show.

Responding to VW’s claims that it will take electric car leadership by 2018 off the back of similar launches, Ghosn said, “I hear we have competition, and I welcome it. Little by little every carmaker will enter the electric car field. This industry cannot run without electric cars and hybrid cars."

Under Ghosn, Renault and Nissan took a pioneering approach to electrified cars, and have launched vehicles including the Nissan Leaf,Renault Twizy and Renault Zoe. However sales have been disappointing, and will fall short of Ghosn's original goal of 1.5m sales annually by 2016.

“I remain bullish,” said Ghosn. “By 2020 I believe 10 percent of cars sold will be electric. We are waiting for governments to show more support, but it will happen. China especially will be key, and by 2020 I expect the momentum to be there.”

JIM HOLDER, AUTOCAR UK

Photographs: Renault has recently launched another electric vehicle, the Zoe, which expands its current EV range to four models.

The Volkswagen e-Up features an 81bhp electric motor and is claimed to be capable of covering up to 103 miles/165km; it costs around £22,500/Rs 22.95 lakh.