Renault Russia says the market for electric vehicles in the country will likely be a slow burner due to challenging climatic conditions and consumer preference for larger cars.
Russia’s fierce continental climate that can see the mercury plunging below -25C in winter and soaring to 40C in summer, presents a particularly difficult arena for EV producers, especially when coupled with a desire for much larger vehicles.
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“[Electric cars?] Immediately no,” said Renault Russia general director, Bruno Ancelin, in Moscow last week and shortly before news of his appointment as EVP product planning and programmes of the French Group.
“There are many reasons for that – very cold weather [and] incentives we don’t have [such as those] with Western Europe.
“The cost of the battery itself is very expensive [while], EVs today are mainly smaller cars, We have no market for smaller cars.
“Even the Leaf is little bit small for the Russia market [while], even in the big cities, distances can be very long.”
The preference of the market for larger vehicles was echoed by Renault Renault Russia VP sales and marketing, Fabrice Cambolive.
“The SUV market in Russia is now roughly 37% and it is growing each year around 2%, 3%, 4%,” said Cambolive at Renault’s Avtoframos factory in Moscow.
“You could say it could be more than 50% in the mid term.”
