The Twingo: From French Icon to a Symphony of Global Collaboration in the Electric Era

In European automotive culture, the name "Twingo" carries deep symbolic meaning. Since its debut in 1992, this compact and agile French car won over families with its unique design, exceptional space efficiency, and affordable price, becoming many Europeans' "first car." More than three decades later, as the global auto industry accelerates into the electric era, Twingo is making a comeback—but this time, its story extends beyond France, unfolding as a global collaboration spanning Paris, Shanghai, and Slovenia.

The new-generation Twingo E-Tech is not only the latest milestone in Renault Group’s electric transition but also a profound exercise in global industrial synergy—born from a concept in France, developed in China, and mass-produced in Europe. It continues the legacy of French design while embodying the speed of Chinese innovation—a fully electric vehicle nurtured by worldwide cooperation and powered by Chinese technology.

1992–2025: Twingo’s Heritage Meets a New Era

When the first-generation Twingo premiered at the 1992 Paris Motor Show, it redefined the compact car segment—with an ultra-short body, surprisingly spacious interior, charming round front end, and bold mono-volume design, it became a symbol of urban European life. More than just a means of transport, the Twingo expressed a spirit of French optimism and creativity.

Yet as the industry shifted toward electrification, the compact EV segment faced intense competition and cost pressures, casting doubt on Twingo’s future. That is, until 2025, when Renault Group unveiled the Twingo E-Tech—not merely a revival, but a transformation.

Three-Country Synergy: From French Creativity to Chinese Speed

Renault Group divided the development of the Twingo E-Tech into three phases:

Upstream Phase:Conceptualization, led by the French team;

Development Phase:Executed by Renault’s ACDC R&D center in Shanghai;

Industrialization Phase:Mass production carried out in Slovenia.

This approach reflects Renault’s strategic shift in the electric era: leveraging the strongest regional advantages worldwide. France contributed design and brand essence, China delivered R&D and supply chain efficiency, and Europe handled manufacturing and delivery. Particularly during the R&D phase, the Chinese team demonstrated remarkable execution and innovation.

While traditional auto development often takes three years from concept freeze to mass production, the Twingo E-Tech completed its development and industrialization in under two years. Even more impressive: it took only nine months from concept freeze to the first engineering prototype, and just two months for component coordination and virtual prototype design—breakthroughs made possible by the Chinese team’s organizational efficiency, supply chain integration, and digital tools.

The Making of “China Speed”: Restructuring the ACDC R&D System

At Renault’s Shanghai ACDC R&D center, cross-functional teams work under one roof in highly synchronized fashion. Unlike the traditional linear “step-by-step” European approach, the Chinese team adopted Synchronous Engineering—advancing virtual prototyping, simulation, supplier selection, and software debugging in parallel.

This success stems from three key factors:

Building on Existing Foundations– Rather than starting from scratch, the team localized and optimized Renault’s mature EV platform and architecture, incorporating modular solutions from Chinese suppliers like CATL (batteries) and Shanghai-based e-motor specialists.

Accelerated Decision-Making– Project approvals that took weeks in France were processed in days in Shanghai, with hardware, software, purchasing, and cost-control teams co-located for real-time decisions.

Restructured Risk Management– The team embraced an 80/20 risk-control philosophy: once 80% of a solution was viable, they moved forward—embracing rapid iteration over perfection.

The Power of China’s Supply Chain Ecosystem

As shared by Zhao Peng Bai, Renault Group China’s Head of Purchasing, the rise of China’s supply chain ecosystem has been critical. Among the 30 core suppliers for the Twingo E-Tech are leading Chinese firms like CATL (batteries), Fuyao (glass), and Minth (exterior trim). These suppliers not only serve the domestic market but are also globally integrated.

Through these partnerships, Twingo’s development costs were reduced by 50%, tooling expenses fell by 40%, and supplier selection was completed in just nine weeks. This efficiency stems not only from cost advantages but from the technical capability, responsiveness, and collaboration level of Chinese suppliers.

“We’re not just making one-off deals,” said Bai. “These 30 suppliers have entered Renault’s global procurement system and will take part in future projects in Europe, Brazil, and even Africa.” China’s supply chain is thus not just a backend enabler but a strategic component of Renault’s global electrification strategy.

French Design Heritage, Technologically Reimagined

Although the Twingo E-Tech was developed mainly in China, it retains the soul of the original.

At just 3.8 meters long, it offers interior space comparable to a B-segment car, with rear seats capable of accommodating two-meter-long items. Aerodynamic details like the tapered rear lights and subtle spoiler integrate engineering and aesthetics. The three classic air intake lines on the front are preserved—though they now cleverly conceal the windshield washer fluid inlet, a touch of French humor merging form and function.

Jérémie, a lead designer, joked: “We’re French—short on budget, but never short on ideas.” This wit captures the Twingo E-Tech’s design philosophy: solving complex problems with intelligent design.

From One Car to a Strategy: Renault’s “Eco-Network” in China

For Renault Group China Chairman and CEO Weiming Su, the Twingo is only the beginning.

“R&D is the foundation,” he stated. “The foundation supports the ecosystem, which enables procurement, then logistics, and finally transactions. Twingo’s success shows that China is not just the world’s factory—it’s becoming the world’s lab for innovation.”

Under Su’s vision, Renault is building an “eco-network” in China:

Shanghai focuses on hardware and vehicle R&D;

Hangzhou leads software, AI, and smart cockpit development;

A future joint investment fund with China International Capital Corporation (CICC) will support local partners in expanding globally.

This model differs from traditional joint ventures—it’s not a simple “market for technology” exchange, but a co-creation platform for shared success. Renault is not just building cars inChina, but building cars withChina.

The Perfect Recipe for the Electric Era: Speed, Tech, Cost, and Internationalization

Su Weiming summarizes Renault’s strategy as “3 + I”:

Speed– Process restructuring cuts project timelines from 40 months to just 20;

Future Technology– Advancements in e-powertrains, EE architecture, and AI;

Cost Competitiveness– An open ecosystem delivers globally optimized costs;

Internationalization– Exporting not only vehicles but also R&D, management, and partnership models.

The Twingo E-Tech is the first outcome of this framework—not simply a “French car made in China,” but a truly global co-creation, where Chinese speed empowers the electric rebirth of a French icon.

Epilogue: A Small Car Reflects a New Era

Thirty years ago, the Twingo reshaped how Europe saw small cars. Today, the Twingo E-Tech reshapes how the world sees Chinese innovation. It marks the starting point of Renault’s electric strategy and signals China’s growing influence in the global automotive supply chain. When the lights lit up on the new Twingo—nicknamed “Batmobile”—on the stage in Paris, it was more than a product launch. It was a statement: the formula for the electric era lies not in one nation’s expertise, but in the fusion of wisdom from across the world.

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