Making electric vehicles accessible: the real challenge of the energy transition Published on Article summary In response to the challenges of the electric transition, Renault Group is making accessibility a cornerstone of its futuREady strategy. By reconciling profitability with decarbonization, the Group is reinventing its industrial model around the concept of “easy and affordable.” Grégoire Ginet, Revenue Leader for Twingo, explains how Twingo E-Tech electric embodies this new era. How is Renault Group addressing the challenge of combining competitiveness with the ecological transition through Renault Twingo E-Tech electric? Grégoire Ginet: It is indeed a complex equation, especially in the A-segment (small vehicles), where costs can rise quickly due to safety and environmental requirements. To tackle this, we focused on three fundamental pillars from the very start of the project: offering an attractive car priced below €20,000 (before incentives), ultra-fast development within two years, and production in Europe. Development agility is the key driver of profitability. By reducing development time to just 21 months, compared with four years for the previous generation, we have significantly lowered fixed and engineering costs. This efficiency allows us to offer a competitive alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles while ensuring European production at our plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. This location is also strategic: it secures access to government incentives for our customers, bringing the final price below €16,000, and even under €14,000 for some households. Beyond the purchase price, you emphasize the idea of a vehicle that is “affordable to own and run.” What does that mean in practice for everyday drivers? Accessibility should not be a one-off benefit at the point of purchase; it must extend throughout the vehicle’s entire lifecycle. The new Twingo E-Tech electric targets a record energy consumption of 12.2 kWh/100 km (WLTP), the lowest on the market. For customers,