CMA CGM Group partners with Flexis SAS, initiated by Renault Group and Volvo Group, for the development of electric vans.Through its energy fund, PULSE, CMA CGM acquires a 10% stake in Flexis SAS, with plans for strategic investment up to EUR 120 million by 2026.
Volvo Group and Renault Group, with a 45% stake each in Flexis SAS, aim to invest EUR 300 million over the next three years.
As demands for electrified vans rise due to climate change pressures and CO2 regulations, along with the surge in e-commerce and logistics, the European market for such vans is projected to grow by 40% annually until 2030.
In response, Volvo Group, Renault Group, and CMA CGM Group are establishing Flexis SAS to spearhead the decarbonization of the transportation and logistics sectors. As a coalition of three industry leaders with an agile startup approach, Flexis merges the manufacturing expertise of top automotive companies with the logistical prowess of a leading automotive logistics firm.
These companies are recognized for their leadership in electric vehicles and software, LCV manufacturing (for Renault Group), transport solutions focusing on tailored services, uptime, and productivity (for Volvo Group), and logistics, particularly in the automotive sector, as well as pioneering efforts in supply chain decarbonization (for CMA CGM).
The vehicles will be built on a new fully electric LCV skateboard platform that will offer high modularity for different body types at a competitive cost, and a breakthrough in safety requirements.
Adopting the new connected electronic platform, the vehicle will onboard unprecedented capabilities to monitor users’ delivery activity and business performance, reducing up to 30% the global cost of usage for logistic players.
The connected services will enable customers to benefit from up-to-date vehicles during their whole lifecycle The van itself will offer outstanding compacity for urban mobility, and high polyvalence for tailor-made solutions with different battery capacities, as well as the first 800V architecture on the market for vehicles in this category.
The vehicles will be produced in Renault Group’s Sandouville plant, an expert in LCV manufacturing, which will recruit 550 people over the next four years.
