Renault has confirmed it will move to full ownership of Flexis, radically changing the structure of the electric van joint venture originally formed with Volvo Group and CMA CGM Group

The agreement will see Renault Group acquire the stakes held by its partners, giving the French manufacturer complete control of Flexis SAS. Volvo Group currently holds 45% of the business, while CMA CGM Group owns 10%. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals, with the deal expected to become effective by the end of the first half of 2026.

While the ownership structure is changing, the companies say the project’s core direction remains intact. Flexis was created in 2024 to develop a new generation of fully electric light commercial vehicles based on a dedicated skateboard platform and 800-volt electrical architecture. Renault stated that the venture’s product ambition and industrial roadmap will not be altered by the governance change.

Flexis based Renault Traffic E-Tech being checked out by Phil Huff

Production plans also remain unchanged. The first vehicle from the programme – the next generation Renault Trafic E-Tech – is scheduled to enter production at Renault’s Sandouville plant in France towards the end of 2026. The model forms part of Renault’s wider strategy to electrify its light commercial vehicle range using bespoke EV platforms rather than adapted combustion-engine architectures. Notably, the existing diesel-powered Traffic will continue alongside the new electric model.

Despite stepping back from ownership, Volvo Group will continue to play a role through it’s ownership of Renault Trucks, distributing the Flexis-based vehicles from 2027 onwards, and extending the long-standing relationship between the two groups in the light commercial vehicle sector.

Renault is framing the move as a natural next step for the programme rather than a change in strategy, emphasising that development work remains concentrated in France. Around 1,300 employees are currently involved in the project across Renault’s engineering and technology centres, including Guyancourt and Villiers-Saint-Frédéric, ahead of industrialisation at Sandouville.

For UK van buyers and fleet operators, the announcement largely formalises a direction that had already been widely anticipated. Renault had previously signalled its central role in the Flexis programme, and full ownership simplifies the venture’s structure and decision-making, while leaving the product and launch timelines effectively unchanged.

Flexis remains one of the more technically ambitious projects in the European electric van market, particularly with its combination of skateboard packaging, SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) architecture, and high-voltage charging capability.

Phil Huff
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