French automaker Renault SA has outlined its new product plans for the next several years for its South Korean subsidiary, Renault Korea, after the company announced earlier this year that its plant in Busan has been designated as a global production hub for the group’s D- and E-segment models, as well as for next-generation battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Speaking at a press conference in the South Korean capital Seoul this week, Renault Korea’s recently appointed CEO, Nicolas Paris, confirmed that his company plans to launch its first software-defined vehicle (SDV) in South Korea in 2027, while local production of battery electric vehicles is scheduled to start at the Busan plant in 2028.
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The forthcoming SDV is expected feature Renault’s AI-based OpenR Panorama system, offering Level 2++ autonomous driving in urban areas and on highways, as part of the company’s shift towards ‘AI-defined’ vehicles.
Nicolas Paris confirmed that Renault Korea plans to launch one new model in the local market every year through to 2029, under Renault Group’s ‘Future-Ready’ strategy, as the subsidiary looks to “gain the capability to design and mass-produce flagship models for the Group.”
The CEO also suggested that Renault Korea is targeting a vehicle development cycle of less than two years, while maintaining high levels of quality, pointing out that its recently launched Grand Koleos was built in just 24 months.
A key step in the company’s South Korea EV strategy will be to localise battery production and build a domestic EV ecosystem. Renault Korea’s domestic sales fell by 20% to 10,868 units in the first quarter of 2026, as the company struggled to keep up with the overall vehicle electrification transition that is taking place.
