Customisable fleet software key to Renault’s bold van plan

But Wood was confident Renault can maintain its podium position in the UK LCV market as it prepares to introduce a trio of boldly styled new electric vans and expands its commercial fleet offering to give customers a “360deg ecosystem proposition” that will in effect make Renault a one-stop shop for all commercial fleet requirements.

The company unwrapped the new Goelette, Trafic and Estafette (below) at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham earlier this year. Wood said the unveiling was testament to the significance of the UK’s CV market for Renault, with futuristic styling and a new-generation software stack that will in theory enable vehicles to be tailored  precisely to fleet customers' specific needs. 

Due on sale from next year, these ‘software-defined vehicles’ – designed and engineered by Flexis, a CV joint-venture between Renault, Volvo and French logistics firm CMA CGM – are “very, very different” from the vans of the past, according to Wood, thanks to an open-source, Android-based operating system that is precisely configurable, highly scalable and infinitely updatable over the air. 

"Effectively, you've got an upgradeable product that can evolve over time, but you've also got an open-source operation system which gives a whole new world of possibilities in terms of integration with businesses," he said.

"We know that businesses have different fleet management systems and different requirements in their vehicles - whether that's a medical supply or delivery van.

“What that enables us is to do is integrate seamlessly with those systems in our vehicles so we can tailor the vehicles to our businesses. That's going to unlock a lot of new corporate customers."

The precise functionality of the new-generation software stack remains under wraps, but examples of its projected functionality include the ability for companies to design their own integrated logistics platform for use in delivery vans and for precisely managing charging schedules across large fleets to maximise efficiency and minimise downtime.

“What our open-source software enables us to do is integrate with bespoke customers, with bespoke solutions, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all [approach] that was the case in the past,” explained Wood. 

That holistic approach to fleet management extends to a broader LCV fleet offering that includes the installation of chargers at fleet bases through Renault’s Mobilize Power Solutions division, domestic wall boxes for smaller fleet operators or sole traders, and a 'charge pass' programme.

Wood said this new “360deg ecosystem” will be a crucial pillar of Renault’s strategy to boost sales of electric vans in the coming years, in order to meet the targets imposed by the UK government’s Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. 

Targets for electric vans are proportionally much lower than those imposed on passenger cars: manufacturers must achieve a 16% electric LCV sales mix in 2025, compared with 28% for cars. But Wood says the market is still “far below” that mandated figure. He added: “We've got a big job to educate all of those fleet customers about how to go on that transition to electric.”

Introducing new software that facilitates the electric switch for large fleets is a key strand of that education mission, but Wood said the appeal of commercial vehicles must go beyond raw functionality if Renault is to grow its market share and drive EV uptake - and design plays as much of a role in that regard as it does for cars such as the Renault 5 and 4.

"Don't forget, drivers are extremely proud of the van that they drive," said Wood. "They want the latest technology, they value the look and quality of the van they drive. So we certainly believe design is important."

He also said that as companies seek to boost their sustainability credentials in line with corporate regulation and customer expectations, they will naturally begin to favour electric fleet alternatives.

“The powertrain choice reflects very much on corporates, and they're increasingly aware of their carbon footprint - so the design, the powertrain, the technology, the efficiency, is important for their corporate image."

Irrespective of Renault’s goal to remain a podium player, though, the company is not rigidly focused on achieving growth at all costs. Instead, said Wood, it will pursue a policy of stability in the name of sustainability. 

He added: "What's absolutely clear is that we're not going to change our strategy, which is very much 'volume with value'. We want to play in the right ways in the LCV market - and that means growing our corporate and local fleet business.

“We're a podium player today, and I think in the medium term our ambition is to be a podium player in the UK. But we'll always do it sustainably in the right way, in the right channels, because we know we've got really competitive products. Really it's about selling the merits of our products to customers with whom we want to partner."