Renault Partners with Thales to Develop Military Vehicles

Reference News Network, June 17 According to a report from Bloomberg News on June 15, French automaker Renault and Thales Group will collaborate on military vehicles, combining the industrial scale of the former with the expertise of the latter in secure communications and defense systems.

The two companies showcased a prototype vehicle named "4 Troop" at the 2026 European International Defense Exhibition held this week in the suburbs of Paris. The two companies stated on the 15th that the upcoming land vehicle will have the capability to operate aerial and ground unmanned units.

The French government owns 15% of Renault. Earlier this year, the company announced that it is collaborating with domestic aerospace and defense contractor Thales Group to produce multi-purpose drones at a factory in Le Mans. Renault has previously contributed to the military sector, including manufacturing light tanks during World War I.

Renault CEO François Provost, who took office last July, stated that he has not set military revenue targets in the group's new business plan, which will last until 2030. However, Provost mentioned in an interview in Brussels on the 10th that if France and Europe decide to shift towards a military economy in the coming years, it would be a "huge" opportunity for Renault, but he declined to provide further details.

Alexandre Lauss, a senior official in the French defense procurement department, said last week at the Paris Air Forum that France is preparing its defense industry for potential high-intensity conflicts before 2030. Automakers and auto parts suppliers are trying to make progress in the defense sector while struggling to cope with the unstable situation of transitioning to electric vehicles and low demand, which has led to many factories operating below capacity.

Provost stated in an interview in Brussels that while automotive manufacturing is Renault's main business, "defense is an opportunity for us. After two years of research, we know exactly what we can bring to the European and French armies." (Translated by Feng Xue)