Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Renault Group appears to have both negative and positive engagement on climate change policy globally in 2021-23. While the company has broadly positive top-line messaging on climate policy, it appears to have continuously advocated for a delay to the EU's 2035 zero-emissions CO2 target to promote a longer-term role of internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered hybrid vehicles.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Renault has generally positive top-line statements on climate policy. In its 2022 Universal Registration Document, published in March 2023, Renault appeared to advocate for GHG emissions reductions in line with 1.5°C target, as well as expressing support for the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, in an April 2021 joint letter, the company expressed support for the EU's Green Deal and climate neutrality by 2050, while calling for ambitious government policy to respond to climate change.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Renault appears to have engaged with CO2 standards for light-duty vehicles in the EU, UK and New Zealand with mostly negative positions. In a March 2023 ACEA press release, Renault’s CEO, Luca de Meo, appeared unsupportive of the EU's 2035 100% zero-emission CO2 target for light-duty vehicles. Similarly, according to an October 2022 Politico media report, Renault advocated for a weakening of the EU's 2035 100% zero-emissions CO2 target for light-duty vehicles by calling for the inclusion of plug-in hybrids or e-fuels in the policy. Moreover, in the UK, according to an April 2021 parliamentary consultation response, Renault advocated for the UK government to reduce fines for failing to meet UK CO2 reduction targets for light-duty vehicles, or to weaken the requirements. In New Zealand, in a November 2021 consultation response, Renault appeared to strongly oppose higher CO2 targets for light-duty vehicles included in New Zealand's Clean Car Bill, arguing that the proposed targets are unachievable, and emphasizing affordability and supply constraints.

In an April 2021 joint letter, Renault appeared to support a carbon border adjustment mechanism in the EU, without specifying a position on the removal of existing exemptions. In a February 2021 EU consultation response, Renault appeared to support some reforms to elements of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), however it did not support revising the level of free allocation of emissions allowances and rebasing the emissions cap. The company also appeared unsupportive of extending the EU ETS to the road transport sector. In the same consultation response, Renault appeared to support the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), while advocating for the continuation of existing carbon leakage protection measures under the EU ETS with no phase-out.

Positioning on Energy Transition: Renault appears to have mostly negative engagement on the decarbonization of transportation. In a March 2023 ACEA press release, Renault’s CEO, Luca de Meo, appeared unsupportive of the EU's 2035 ICE phase-out date for light-duty vehicles, instead advocating for technology neutrality. An October 2022 Politico media report indicated that Renault was among a group of automakers who had pushed for a later target, as well as exceptions for plug-in hybrids or e-fuels in the policy. As a number of EU nation states attempted to weaken the regulation in its final stages by advocating for an e-fuel exemption, de Meo stated that “mass electrification is … no silver bullet” and that “the enemy is fossil-based energy, not a particular technology”. Furthermore, in separate June, July and August 2023 statements, the Renault CEO called for a five-year delay to the EU’s 2035 ICE phase-out target, emphasizing numerous challenges associated with vehicle electrification. In a November 2021 New Zealand consultation response, Renault also appeared to strongly oppose the ZEV mandate included in New Zealand's proposed Clean Car Bill, while in a November 2022 CNBC article, Renault’s CFO stated that “there is no scenario where ICE and hybrid engines represent less than 40% of the market with a horizon of 2040”.

More positively, in an April 2021 UK consultation response, Renault appeared to support the UK's 2030 phase-out date for gasoline and petrol-powered vehicles, as well as advocating for incentives and policies to promote EVs in the UK, including tax breaks and infrastructure development. Renault appears to support measures to accelerate the electrification of transportation, such as EV financial incentives, according to its 2022 CDP disclosure, as well as advocating for expanded EV infrastructure. Renault also appears to support a 2030 target for biomethane in the EU Hydrogen and Gas Decarbonization Package, according to a May 2023 joint statement.

Industry Association Governance: Renault has disclosed a partial list of its trade association memberships in its 2022 Universal Registration Document. Renault has not completed an audit of its trade association memberships. The company’s CEO, Luca de Meo, is President of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) in 2023. The company is a member of a number of obstructive trade associations globally including the Korea Automobile and Mobility Association (KAMA), UK-based Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2023.