Flexis SAS will focus on creating electric vans designed for urban logistics, emphasising decarbonisation and efficiency. The company will be headquartered in France and will benefit from a combined €420 million investment from Renault and Volvo over the next three years.
Shipping giant CMA CGM also expressed interest in a strategic investment of up to €120 million back in October 2023.
The new electric vans will be built on a skateboard platform, offering flexibility for various body types at a competitive cost. Customers will have a choice of battery options to optimise payload capacity, and the vans will be equipped with an 800-volt electrical system for rapid charging.
A key feature of these electric vans will be the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architecture. This technology will provide advanced monitoring capabilities, allowing fleet operators to maximise their business performance. Renault and Volvo claim this can lead to a significant 30% reduction in global operating costs.
The joint venture leverages the expertise of both companies. Renault brings its experience in developing and manufacturing electric platforms at scale, while Volvo contributes its strong customer base in logistics, global service network, and proven track record in uptime and productivity services. This collaboration builds on a more than 35-year partnership between Volvo and Renault on light commercial vehicles, most notably seen in the joint distribution of the Renault Master and Trafic models.