Fifteen months. That’s all it took for Renault’s Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai to crank out 100,000 units of the reborn Renault 5 E-Tech electric, a milestone the company celebrated last week as the 100,000th car—a Techno trim with the popular 52-kWh battery—rolled off the line. Not bad for a model launched in late 2024 and already crowned 2025 European Car of the Year.
For Renault, this isn’t just a production tally. It’s confirmation that the brand’s electric reboot of the iconic R5 wasn’t just nostalgia bait—it was a shot aimed directly at the heart of Europe’s everyday EV market, and it landed.
ElectriCity: Six EVs, One Line, Zero Slack
Douai’s Ampere ElectriCity operation has been undergoing a full-scale metamorphosis, pivoting from legacy ICE production to a tightly integrated EV ecosystem. The numbers paint a picture of industrial ambition: six electric models built on a single line, including the Renault 5, Megane, Scenic, Alpine A290, Nissan Micra, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Roughly 900 vehicles exit the plant daily, with the 5 E-Tech accounting for about two-thirds of them.
To sustain this, the plant runs three shifts—morning, afternoon, and a newer night shift operating at half pace. That aggressive cadence, coupled with Renault’s choice to centralize EV production in its Hauts-de-France cluster, means most suppliers sit within 300 km and most customers within 1000 km.
The result? Efficiency with a “Made in France” seal—literally, as the R5 E-Tech also carries Origine France Garantie certification.
A Star Across Europe—and Beyond
The retro-cute electric hatch hasn’t merely sparked curiosity; it has dominated charts across Europe. It’s currently the top-selling electric B-segment car in Europe and sits second in Europe’s overall retail EV rankings across all segments. At home in France, it shot straight to number one at the start of the year, with similar wins in the UK (October), the Netherlands, and Spain.
Renault has begun pushing the R5 E-Tech beyond Europe’s borders as well. Turkey and Israel joined the roster recently, with Morocco added last month. More markets will follow in 2026.
What’s Next: Upgrades for 2026
Renault isn’t letting its mini EV hero stagnate. Beginning January 2026, the 5 E-Tech will receive a series of updates across the lineup:
- One-Pedal Driving arrives on Techno and above, adding a stronger fourth level of regen capable of bringing the car to a full stop. It’s a small upgrade with big daily-driving impact, especially in Europe’s never-ending roundabouts.
- Driver Attention Alert becomes available, using an interior camera to monitor fatigue or distraction.
- Connectivity Boost: 2 GB/month of data is included for three years with most Mobilize Financial Services contracts—enough for typical app usage, 40 hours of music, or about 3 hours of video streaming.
- Customization Options: “PoweR5” decals for rear wings and expanded availability of the “NumbeR5” graphics pack across lower trims.
With three motors, two batteries, five trims, and pricing from €24,990 (before incentives), Renault is clearly positioning the 5 to stay competitive as mainstream EV buyers demand more variety and more value.
The Big Picture
Renault’s gamble to revive a legend as an EV seems to be paying off. The new R5 isn’t just a fashionable throwback—it’s a volume mover built on an industrial ecosystem engineered for speed and sustainability. And if the first 100,000 units are any indication, the next chapter of Renault’s electric era is just getting warmed up.
Source: Renault