French automaker Renault plans to cut 15 to 20% of its engineering and technical staff over two years, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. The company's technical workforce totals approximately 11 to 12 thousand people, meaning up to 2400 employees could be affected. As of the end of 2025, the group's total headcount exceeded 100 thousand.

Decisions on layoffs will be made by Renault management in individual countries where the company operates. According to Bloomberg, CEO François Provost, who took over the helm in July 2025, is consistently pursuing a cost-cutting strategy to increase operational flexibility. Like other European automakers, Renault is facing increasing competitive pressure from Chinese brands, particularly BYD.

Within the framework of its new five-year strategy, the company plans to launch 36 vehicle models, 14 of which are intended for markets outside Europe. Provost stated the need to employ "Chinese methods" in the production process. Collaboration with engineers at the Chinese research center has already reduced the development cycle of the new Renault Twingo electric vehicle to 21 months, Reuters reports.

By the end of 2025, the group sold approximately 2,3 million vehicles globally, up 3,2% year-on-year. In Europe, 1,6 million units were sold, including 400 thousand hybrid vehicles (up 35,1%) and 194 thousand electric vehicles (up 76,7%).