The Mégane is already on sale, with the Scenic set to join it shortly. The 5 will be launched in production form early next year, followed by the more rugged 4 in 2025, and the Twingo is tipped to arrive in 2026.
Ampere said that two additional cars will then arrive as part of its second generation of EVs, growing its line-up of European Renault EVs to seven by 2031. By that point, the firm is aiming to sell around a million EVs per year, up from around 300,000 currently.
Ampere will focus on developing ‘software-defined vehicles’, which will require fewer mechanical parts as a result, allowing for substantial cost-savings. De Meo said that in terms of costs the firm’s first SDV – which based on product cylcle is likely to be the Twingo – would be “on a par with Tesla at that time, and matching the Chinese brands.”
De Meo also hinted that Ampere’s focus on the European market could help it win consumers over compared to Chinese machines that have technology and infotainment more suited to tech-hungry buyers in that market.
“Don’t underestimate the cultural aspects of software usage,” said de Meo. He highlighted security as a major example of this, nothing the European smartphone market move away from Chinese phones due to privacy concerns, but added: “It’s not just about security: it’s about better access. It’s also about culture with functionality, economics and services.
