Renault has presented the keys of the first ZOE EV to Arnaud Montebourg, French Minister of Industrial Recovery.
After ordering the Renault ZOE electric vehicle at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012, Arnaud Montebourg, Minister of Industrial Recovery, was presented today with the keys to the first ZOE in the Cour d’Honneur of the Bercy Finance Ministry by Carlos Tavares, Chief Operating Officer of the Renault group.
The first delivery of ZOE, the first broadly affordable full-electric car, comes ahead of further deliveries set for between now and the end of 2012 and mass launch in the French Renault network in first-quarter 2013.
ZOE, the spearhead of Renault’s Z.E. range, is the Group’s first full-electric car. In France, the widely affordable car qualifies for a €7,000 government environmental bonus, bringing the starting price in France down to €13,700 (including VAT).
ZOE EV targets private buyers and business customers alike. It is ideal for daily journeys and embodies Renault’s excellence in electric technology. The mobility-enhancing model features the most advanced technology in terms of range, user friendliness (with the installation of a charging station at motorists’ homes or workplaces) and connectivity. It is a key symbol of the Group’s commitment to the electric revolution.
The launch will be accompanied by the widespread development of public and private charging stations with the support of the taskforce headed by Philippe Hirtzman and tasked with stimulating and backing infrastructure projects in large urban agglomerations.
Key figures:
– At end-October 2012, Renault had put 16,600 electric vehicles on the road in Europe.
– At end-September 2012, Renault led the European electric PC + LCV market (excluding Twizy) with a 28.2% share.
– Renault led the French EV market with sales of 4,566 units (including 1,999 Twizys) at end-October 2012.
– Some 10,000 charging stations had been installed in Europe at end-2011. This figure has now risen to roughly 15,000 (up 50% on end-2011).
– In France, the 2,000 to 3,000 Autolib stations are accessible to other EVs besides the Bluecars. Considerable efforts have been made in the Seine Aval area, in the Alsace, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions, and in cities such as Rennes, Rouen and Angoulême.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]