Dongfeng Renault Automotive Company (DRAC) has announced plans to produce an electric vehicle (EV) in China based on the Renault Fluence ZE, according to a company press release. The DRAC joint venture between Chinese automaker Dongfeng Group and French automaker Renault will produce the car at a plant in Wuhan in 2017. It will be sold under the Dongfeng badge and will be exclusively available in China.
Significance: In December 2013, Renault received approval from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to form a joint venture with Dongfeng to produce vehicles in China. At the time, it was understood the initial production licence was for sport utility vehicles. In September 2014, company CEO Carlos Ghosn was quoted as telling reporters at a test-drive event in Nantes in France that, "Renault is ready to build the Fluence in China." He declined at the time to reveal which brand the EV would be built under.
