Renault Plans to Cut 20% of Engineers Amid Strategic EV Overhaul

[Personnel Adjustment] Renault plans to reduce its engineering workforce by 15%–20% within two years, affecting over 1,500 employees.

Core Development: Layoffs Target Engineering Teams, No Forced Departures

Renault employs approximately 11,000 to 12,000 engineers globally. At the upper end of the reduction range—20%—more than 1,500 people would be impacted. The company emphasized that it will not implement forced layoffs and will retain core R&D activities in France.

Strategic Rationale: Responding to Chinese EV Competition and Accelerating R&D Transformation

Since CEO François Provost took office, he has driven cost optimization efforts and explicitly adopted strategies inspired by Chinese automakers. Leveraging its Shanghai R&D center, Renault has already launched the all-electric Twingo priced under €20,000 and plans to replicate its China-developed approach at the Technocentre campus near Paris.