Renault, Daimler may team up on large vans as Opel tie-up ends after PSA-FCA merger

PARIS -- Renault and Daimler are in talks to jointly develop at least one large van, sources said, in a move that could replace Renault's joint venture for vans with Opel/Vauxhall.

Renault and Daimler could team up in some capacity to work on the next generation of Renault Master vans, which are built at Renault's Batilly plant in northeastern France, two people with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. They said that talks may yet lead nowhere and have not yet concluded.

Representatives of both Renault and Daimler declined to comment.

The Renault Master built in Batilly is rebadged by Opel/Vauxall as the Movano.

An Opel spokesman on Tuesday said the Movano will migrate to Stellantis vehicle architecture. The move follows the merger last month of Opel parent PSA Group with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to create Stellantis.

A new joint van agreement between Renault and Daimler would give fresh impetus to a partnership that has tailed off.

Renault has an alliance with Daimler that dates back to 2010. The cooperation has stalled since Daimler's Mercedes-Benz decided to ax its slow-selling X-Class pickup. The model shared underpinnings with the Renault Alaskan and alliance partner Nissan's Navara.

Daimler also ended its cooperation with Renault for its Smart brand. The minicars, which share technology with their platform sibling, the Renault Twingo Z.E., were built in France but were moved to China under a joint venture with Zhejian Geely Holding Group, Daimler's biggest single shareholder.

Other joint projects have also tailed off over the years, partly because Daimler has cut back on purchases of Renault diesel motors, leading to questions over whether the partnership had a future. Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said in June that the automaker wants to boost its alliance with Daimler.

Demand for vans of all sizes has jumped amid the COVID-19 pandemic, fueled by e-commerce deliveries as people have ordered more goods from home during lockdowns.

Renault faces increased competition in the van segment.

Ford and Volkswagen Group said last year that, as part an alliance they announced in 2019, they would collaborate on developing two vans.

Stellantis will combine the van-making resources and manufacturing scale of PSA and FCA companies.

Automotive News Europe contributed to this report