Big Boss Interview Renault CEO: French Unrest & Europe's Moment of Reckoning
Oct 19, 2026
Theo Leggett, BBC transport correspondent, speaks with François Provost, Renault Group CEO, about Europe’s automotive crossroads. They discuss China’s cost advantage, Renault’s push to develop cars faster, and the future of electric-vehicle mandates. UK-EU trade, Renault-Nissan cooperation, French political instability, jobs, youth opportunity, and smarter connected cars are also in focus.
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Make Chinese Brands Invest In Europe
- Pursue an EU–China investment deal instead of relying only on tariffs or trade conflict.
- Require Chinese manufacturers to invest and produce in Europe, competing under comparable labour and energy conditions.
Europe Cannot Match China On Cost
- European automakers can compete on design, quality and customer experience, but Chinese production costs remain 30–40% lower.
- Provost warns uncontrolled imports combined with regulation could halve European vehicle production after 2030.
Expensive Regulations Can Delay Decarbonisation
- Regulations intended to accelerate decarbonisation can shrink the market when they make new cars unaffordable.
- Europe’s average car is already 11 years old, so lower prices and stable rules may decarbonise faster than escalating mandates.