Renault has decided to change its strategy for the development of rare earths free electric motors, now seeking a specialized Chinese supplier for stator components and ending the collaboration with Valeo.
This is a move that responds both to the urgency of reducing production costs and to recent export restrictions imposed by China on rare earths, which are strategic materials for e-mobility.
Since 2012, Renault has adopted wound-rotor synchronous motors that do not utilize rare earths, differentiating itself from the permanent magnet technology widely used in the sector. The latest generation, developed with Valeo, aimed for further improvements in compactness and power density thanks to the integration of Hairpin stator winding technology.
China’s role
China controls more than 70% of global rare earth mining and 85% of refining. The country’s recent tightening of export restrictions has accelerated the search by European automakers for alternative solutions—not only for practical reasons but also as a strategic necessity to reduce dependency on a single geopolitical area. Chinese suppliers are emerging as leaders not just in conventional components but also in innovative, rare-earth-free parts, offering solutions at significantly lower costs compared to European counterparts. Despite the prospective Chinese partnership for stator supply, Renault confirms its commitment to maintaining an industrial chain “made in France” where possible: final motor assembly will remain at Cléon, and key components such as silicon carbide modules for the inverter will be manufactured by Franco-Italian STMicro. Ampere, Renault’s electric division, also notes that the option to produce stators domestically remains under evaluation.
New generation of Renault EVs
The new generation of rare earths free motors is intended for Renault’s compact EVs from 2028 onward, central to the strategy that CEO François Provost will present in March 2026. The rapid development of the new electric Twingo—engineered in only two years with Chinese engineering support—highlights the importance of international synergies in advancing electrification and reducing industrial costs.
