Renault future models: 2026-2036
Minimal exposure to the rapidly shrinking Chinese market is an accidental does of good fortune for Renault Group. And what looks like it might become a larger alliance with Geely could well lead to another happy outcome. In the latter case, that could also help to fix a long-troubled presence in South Korea plus build on much success in Brazil.
Europe, then, remains the sole major challenge for the Renault brand, if we cautiously accept that Nissan Motor seems to be back on the road to sustainable profitability. Sales goals have been set, with the diamond emblem marque expected to be delivering some one million PVs annually across its Europe region in 2030. Every one of these will supposedly be electrified.
A further one million cars, crossovers, SUVs, MPVs and pick-ups are due to sold in the rest of the world, also within 3-4 years’ time (“for 2030” are the official words). Half of those should be electrified. This statement was made by Fabrice Cambolive, Renault brand CEO on 10 March as part of the futuREady plan announcement.
Are the huge ambitions for India realistic?
India was singled out a few weeks later by the Group’s CEO Francois Provost, who is keen for a five per cent share of that country’s market by 2030. A record 441,576 PVs were sold in August, of which 2,842 were Renaults, while year to date, market leader Maruti delivered 1,400,150 passenger vehicles and Renault, 31,980. Still, market share is climbing ever closer to one per cent. So who knows what might be possible in 40 months’ time (presuming “by 2030” means 31 December 2029).
Oragadam will increasingly become a far larger export hub than it is at present; at least that’s the intention. The Chennai-adjacent production complex is expected to gradually reach or surpass current annual outputs of factories in Europe, Morocco, South Korea, South America and Türkiye. The Bridger (see image) could play a leading role in Renault’s ambitions – more on this below.
Along with the new global expansion project, the Group has recently formally named and renamed its architectures: RGMP Small, RGEV Small, RGEV medium 1.0, GREV medium 2.0, RGMP medium, RGMP pick-up, RGEV medium van, APP, RGEA (adaptation of Geely GEA) and RGEP (multi-energy platform, entry level).
Small cars and small SUVs – a big global market
Looking at what’s new and next worldwide, Renault is fairly strong in the A segment. The aged Kwid does well in Brazil and had its most recent facelift in August. Meanwhile in Europe the emphasis is instead on EVs. In this region the Twingo E-Tech is off to a strong start. It will be joined in early 2027 by a Dacia twin, the new Spring. Each should be facelifted in 2030 and replaced in 2033.
The 5 is also proving to be major success. The closely related 4, less so, which means we should see some modifications or at least new variants in 2027. An upgraded battery pack was announced in June and there should be another when these cars are facelifted in 2028. The 5, and possibly the 4, will then go to a new generation in 2031.
Sized between the traditional A and B segments is the soon to be revealed Bridger. This front-drive SUV has been specially developed for India and will be in production there commencing in 2027. Expect a facelift in 2030 and a replacement in 2033.
Global B segment
The brand’s best seller for the combined European market is the Clio though the Dacia Sandero is the Group’s number one and also the market’s top dog (150,000+ for 1 Jan-31 Aug), well ahead of the Golf, T-Roc and Clio.
The latest generation of this hatchback is so far available with 1.2-litre three-cylinder and hybrid 1.8-litre four-cylinder engines. The platform is an evolution of CMF-B (RGMP Small). An electric derivative is said to be coming, based on AmpR Small (RGEV Small).
A fresh generation of the Captur should again be effectively the Clio’s SUV brother and so the platforms will be RGMP Small and RGEV Small when the new model lands in 2028.
Renault also does relatively well in India’s B segment. A specially adapted Duster was revealed in January and is produced in Oragadam, with exports to South Africa and the Gulf States following. While more or less the same model as the Dacia original, there are certain differences. The life cycle should be seven years.
Will the Scenic be reinvented yet again?
The C and D segments are something of a mixed bag for the brand, though certain models are now in mid-life and there is intense competition in their respective segments. One such is the Scenic, which had some minor revisions just a few days ago but there are also two new batteries – 67 kWh LFP and 89 kWh NMC – the benefit being more range.
It is by no means certain that there will be a Scenic successor but if one does appear it wouldn’t be until 2029. EREV and HEV systems should be expected as well as a replacement for today’s EV-only drive.
Symbioz, Austral, Rafale, Espace
Bigger than the Scenic and more successful to boot is the Symbioz. This crossover has been around since 2024 and so next year should see it having a facelift. Generation two is due in 2030 or 2031 and this will likely include an electric variant along with a successor for today’s HEVs.
What about the Austral and Rafale? Given their far from cheap pricing, it has been a pleasant surprise for Renault that each sells relatively strongly. The Qashqai-challenging Austral was launched in 2022 and facelifted in 2025 so its next generation should be launched in 2028.
The 4.7 m long coupe-crossover Rafale is two years younger than the Austral. Which means a facelift in 2027 and a follow-up in 2030 or 2031. Such a vehicle could either be merged with the next Espace or be at least very closely related to that model.
Will there though be a new Espace? Today’s model isn’t much of success and it may not even make it to the end of a seven-years life cycle. If it does last until 2030, the follow-up might look a lot like the R-Space Lab. This concept was revealed at the 10 March strategic plan event.
Trying again in Korea – will the new Geely crossover succeed?
What had long ago been Samsung Motors and then RSM is now Renault Korea. The division has struggled for a long time and the latest attempt at a fix is the Filante. Revealed in January, with build at the Busan factory starting soon after, this 4.9 m long crossover is positioned above the Grand Koleos. Geely-based, it uses that company and Volvo’s CMA (platform) as well as a hybrid powertrain. There are exports to markets in the Persian Gulf and South America. The life cycle should be five years.
An AWD pick-up and the Maxi 5 Turbo reinterpreted
Pick-ups are not something we traditional associate with Renault but the Niagara is soon to change that. Revealed on 10 September and to be manufactured at the company’s Santa Isabel/Córdoba plant in Argentina, this is a 4.9 m long monocoque four-door model. Power will come from a turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain turbo hybrid 4×4 powertrain. The platform’s official name is RGMP and production, which should last for eight years, starts soon.
A real image booster for the brand arrives next year in the form of the ultra-fast and high-priced 5 Turbo 3E. Renault says it will make 1,980 examples of the rear-wheel electric car, claiming a promised combined 500 PS+ from two x 200 kW in-wheel motors. Other specifics include a CFRP body and a bespoke platform.
Brazil – the deal with Geely
In Brazil, Renault is doing around 10,000 units a month, solid in seventh place ahead of Jeep, Honda and GWM. Nissan, Caoa Chery and Ford are in the next tier but local partner Geely is the real story. In this surging market, which was up by 23 per cent to 263,390 PVs in August, the Chinese OEM’s sales have risen dramatically. Next year could see things really shifting, with the partners announcing a new stage of their JV on 15 September .
A further BRL 2bn (EUR393m) will be spent at Renault’s Ayrton Senna plant in São José dos Pinhais. The next vehicle to roll off the line there will be the Geely EX2 commencing in December. Then in 2027 comes a Renault model which will use the same ICE+Electrified architecture (Geely’s GEA). Its lifecycle should be six years.