The Renault and Volvo groups will develop a new generation of electric vans and have formed a new company with logistics specialist CMA CGM.

"Renault and Volvo will continue to seek additional investment and business partners," they said in a statement.

A new family of fully electric and software defined vehicles will be introduced with production scheduled to start in 2026.

The vehicles will be built on a new fully electric LCV skateboard platform that will offer high modularity for different body types at low cost.

Adopting new software defined vehicle architecture, the models will have "unprecedented capability to monitor delivery activity and user business performance, reducing by 30% the global cost of usage for logistic players", it was claimed.

Connected services will keep vehicles up to date for their lifetime.

The van line will be compact, tailor made where needed and offer different 800 volt battery capacity.

The new company will be fully independent and Renault and Volvo will share investment in research and development and bring existing know-how, services, and industrial footprint to the venture.

The joint venture is scheduled to start operations early 2024, depending on the completion of regulatory approval. The subsequent entry of CMA CGM in the company is also subject to regulatory approval.

The future company will operate under its own corporate identity and be based in France.

Volvo Group, through its Renault Trucks unit and Renault Group have worked together on light commercial vehicles for 35 years and currently distribute the Renault Master and Trafic commercial vehicles.

Renault has previously operated joint van manufacturing with GM Europe.