Why Renault Killed Its Home‑Grown EV Start‑up Ampere
Bottom line: Renault has folded the Ampere spin‑off back into the group, ending the short‑lived EV‑only subsidiary and putting all EV and software work under the main brand.
Why Renault Killed Its Home‑Grown EV Start‑up Ampere – The Full Story
Image: Why Renault Killed Its Home‑Grown EV Start‑up Ampere – The Full Story – Performance Comparison and Specifications
Design & Looks
When Luca de Meo announced Ampere at the end of 2023, the idea was simple: create a lean, start‑up‑style unit that could move faster than a legacy car maker. Eleven thousand Renault staff wore an Ampere badge, and the new entity promised flat decision‑making and a fresh brand look. In practice, the extra layer added duplicated roles, confusing reporting lines and a parallel identity that never felt truly separate.
Performance & Mileage
Ampere was meant to own Renault’s electric powertrain development and software engineering. The plan included the Ampr Medium platform, a cost‑cutting EV architecture aiming for a 40 % reduction versus the older CMF‑EV. Yet the platform soon needed a range‑extending petrol engine from Horse Powertrain, blurring the pure‑EV promise. With no clear market‑ready models and software partners like Qualcomm staying on the sidelines, the performance narrative stalled before a single Ampere‑badged car reached customers.
Price & Rivals
The most visible nail in the coffin was finance. A hoped‑for €800 million injection from Nissan and Mitsubishi never materialised, and the IPO slated for early 2024 was cancelled as EV start‑up valuations collapsed. Without fresh cash, Ampere could not fund its ambitious targets, while rivals such as Chinese EV makers accelerated. New Renault chief François Provost, focused on “simplification,” decided the extra corporate layer was a liability, not a competitive edge.
| Engine | Mileage | Price | Top Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ampere EV Platform (Ampr Medium) | N/A – never launched | N/A – no sales | Flat decision‑making, software‑first focus, target 40% cost cut |
FAQ
- What was Ampere supposed to do for Renault? Ampere was created to centralise EV powertrain and software work, aiming for faster development and a future spin‑off that could attract outside investors.
- Why did Renault cancel the Ampere IPO? Investor appetite dried up, the promised €800 million from Nissan and Mitsubishi vanished, and market valuations for EV start‑ups fell sharply, making a flotation unattractive.
- Is Renault still committed to electric cars? Yes. After folding Ampere back, Renault kept the EV platform and software teams inside the group, signalling a return to a single‑brand, core‑focus strategy.
What do you think about Renault’s decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Read Official News
