Arnaud Montebourg, the French Minister of Industrial Renewal, visits the Flins plant

Arnaud Montebourg, France’s Minister of Industrial Renewal, paid a visit to Renault’s Flins plant on May 28, 2013. He was welcomed by Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault group.

Carlos Ghosn talked about the know-how and expertise of the Flins plant, which last year celebrated its 60th birthday. He applauded the commitment of all the site’s employees, which has resulted in the successful simultaneous launch of two models symbolizing the renewal of the Renault range: New Clio and ZOE. Carlos Ghosn said: “I would like to thank the employees of the Flins plant for all the efforts made as part of the Renault Competitiveness Agreement signed on March 13, under which the plant will produce 82,000 Nissan Micra starting in 2016”.

Arnaud Montebourg visited the assembly line, where he talked with employees and found out more about the challenge of manufacturing three different vehicles, one of them electric (Clio Collection, New Clio and ZOE), on the same production line. Carlos Ghosn took advantage of the minister’s presence to applaud the French government’s support for the development of electric vehicles as part of its Automotive Plan.

Commenting on his visit, Mr. Montebourg said: “I would like to thank the employees and management of Renault who, by making reciprocal concessions, enabled the start of a movement in which manufacturing is assigned to the French plants of the company. The competitiveness agreement signed by Renault’s trade unions is decisive in the defense of our industrial plant and machinery.”