Partnerships and collaboration
Renault strengthens cooperation with Geely in Brazil, continues to explore cooperation with Chery and other OEMs
Renault Group confirmed on November 3 that it has “executed definitive agreements” with China-based automotive manufacturer Geely, extending the two companies’ “strategic cooperation” in Brazil. Meanwhile, reports claim the company is in talks with Chery and other automakers over similar partnerships.
Under these agreements, Geely formally acquired a 26.4% stake in Renault do Brasil, with Renault Group remaining the majority shareholder and “continuing to consolidate the entity in its accounts”.
By obtaining this stake in the company, Geely has secured access to Renault do Brasil's industrial and commercial resources. This, Renault has said, will allow Geely to accelerate its expansion in the South American automotive market.
“The partnership we are announcing today with Geely in Brazil marks a decisive step forward in our international strategy,” said François Provost, Renault Group CEO. “It establishes an agile cooperation founded on industrial excellence and technological leadership. Once again, combining our strengths will make us more competitive, more innovative, and more responsive in a fast-evolving automotive market.”
This partnership will see the production of Geely branded vehicles alongside Renault vehicles at Renault's Ayrton Senna plant in São José dos Pinhais, Brazil. According to Renault, this will enable Renault do Brasil to “increase production and further sharpen the competitiveness” of the industrial complex.
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Renault do Brasil will distribute Geely's portfolio of low- and zero-emission vehicles in Brazil. Through their cooperation, the two automakers hope to “enhance their presence in Brazil and accelerate the development of their respective brands in a key market accounting for more than 40% of vehicle registrations in Latin America in H1 2025”.
“Our continued cooperation with Renault in exploring new markets and new opportunities will make for a win-win scenario as both Renault and Geely are able to leverage technology scales on a global level to bring the best products to market,” commented Eric Li, chairman of Geely Holding Group.
According to reports, Renault is in talks with other automakers – including Chinese OEM Chery – to jointly produce and sell cars. Speaking about the Geely deal, Fabrice Cambolive, Renault Group's chief growth officer, is quoted as saying: "This type of partnership is clearly a winning one because we are expanding access to different platforms, industrial tools, engineering and a distribution network."
Growth in international markets has been a key focus for Renault this year, as it creates regional hubs to “meet the needs of the local market while serving as a regional export platform”.
This prioritisation of growth in the region was touched on during Renault Group’s earnings call for H1 2025, in which South America was described as “the obvious priority” for international expansion because of the company’s existing presence there.
Earlier this year, Renault announced the opening of a new international logistics network (ILN) centre in Mexico, as the company looked to strengthen its supply chain operations in South America.
"This addition strengthens our logistics capabilities across the Americas and supports our strategic growth in the region," a Renault spokesperson told Automotive Logistics. "The establishment of the ILN in Mexico further facilitates and streamlines the export of parts to our operations throughout Latin America, enhancing efficiency and responsiveness to market needs."
