Hyperdrive

Renault Leans Toward Making Alpine On Its Own, Not With Lotus

  • Carmaker mulled co-development with Geely’s Lotus: sources
  • Talks with AutoNation for Alpine’s US expansion are ongoing

An employee inspects a Renault automobile at the Renault Revoz d.d. plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

Photographer: Oliver Bunic/Bloomberg
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Renault SA is leaning toward developing the platform for its new Alpine sports-car models on its own rather than pursuing co-development with Geely’s Lotus Cars, according to people familiar with the situation.

The French carmaker’s engineers have sufficient expertise to make the platform, which the company views as a key piece of rebooting its brand, said the people. Lotus is controlled by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.