If you’ve caught wind of the buzz on social media or caught the tail end of a heated TV debate on TF1, you’ve probably heard the claim that Renault quietly packed up its Zoe electric car production line and shipped it off to Romania. Spoiler alert: it’s completely untrue. In fact, the Zoe never left its home turf in France, and production wrapped up months ago to make room for the new Renault 5 E-Tech.
Let’s dive into the real story behind the headlines, sort through where the confusion might have come from, and celebrate the Zoe’s legacy as a French-built EV pioneer. Buckle up – this ride is all about setting the record straight with a friendly, no-nonsense approach.
Debunking the Rumor: Zoe Was Never Relocated
The claim started making waves when Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT union, mentioned on TF1 that Renault had moved Zoe production to Romania. While it’s understandable that industrial shifts spark concern about jobs and local economies, this particular statement doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Renault’s Zoe has always been built in France, and the assembly line never crossed any borders.
Why did this rumor take off? One likely factor is mixing up Renault’s various brands and plants. Renault’s Dacia subsidiary operates in Romania, but its tiny Spring EV is actually assembled in China, not at home. Meanwhile, the future Twingo EV is slated for Slovenia. It’s easy to see how these details got tangled up in the heat of a TV debate, but make no mistake: the Zoe remained firmly in French hands until production ceased in March 2024.
Zoe: A Proudly French-Built Pioneer
When Renault launched the Zoe in 2012, it marked a major milestone for electric vehicles in Europe. Renault dedicated the Flins plant, located on the outskirts of Paris, exclusively to Zoe assembly. Over more than a decade, that line produced over 200,000 Zoe units, making it one of the best-selling EVs in the region.
And it wasn’t just the bodywork coming from France. The electric motor powering every Zoe rolled off the production line at Renault’s Cléon plant in Seine-Maritime, also in France. From the chassis to the battery pack (sourced from European suppliers), the Zoe embodied a truly French manufacturing ecosystem – an aspect Renault proudly highlighted in its marketing campaigns and during debates around “made in France.”
The Shift to Renault 5 E-Tech
March 30, 2024, saw the final Zoe leave the Flins plant. Rather than an offshoring move, this closure was a strategic pivot to make way for the Renault 5 E-Tech, which resurrects the iconic 1970s model as a modern EV. Just like its predecessor, the new Renault 5 is built on French soil – this time in Douai, up north in the Hauts-de-France region.
It’s totally valid to worry about deindustrialization and outsourcing trends in the auto industry. But in this case, evidence points in the opposite direction: Renault is reinvesting in local facilities and retrofitting them for electric vehicle production. The Zoe’s run may be over, but its production heritage lives on through Renault’s continued commitment to French manufacturing.
Renault 5 E-Tech: What’s Next?
The move to ramp up production of the Renault 5 E-Tech at Douai signals Renault’s broader plan to keep EV manufacturing grounded in Europe. Douai’s factory was already equipped for small car assembly, but Renault invested heavily in battery manufacturing capabilities, robotics, and specialized tooling to handle the new electric platform.
Early previews of the Renault 5 E-Tech show a compact EV that combines retro style with modern tech. Industry insiders expect it to rival the Zoe’s sales success, thanks to competitive pricing and an updated driving range. If the 5 E-Tech takes off, it will further cement France’s role in the evolving EV landscape and prove that rumors of Renault shifting operations abroad are, in fact, just hot air.
