According to a French financial newspaper, BYD attempted to acquire a stake in Renault twice within two years – apparently to gain access to Renault’s plants in Europe. The offer is said to have gone too far for the French, who are otherwise open to alliances.
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“There was a desire to take control,” an insider told Les Échos. However, the French group reportedly rejected BYD’s advances twice. Renault has made it a principle not to enter into such agreements in its core market of Europe, according to the newspaper. It is no secret that Renault, as a relatively small manufacturer, relies on alliances and partnerships. Particularly in the current, highly capital-intensive transformation phase, the brand is seeking closer collaboration with other manufacturers.
However, BYD’s offer apparently went too far for Renault. According to Les Échos, the first approach occurred around two years ago. After several meetings, BYD reportedly proposed taking a stake in Renault. At the time, however, under CEO Luca de Meo, Renault had already forged closer ties with another Chinese manufacturer: Geely. In 2022, the Chinese company acquired a 34 per cent stake in Renault Korea Motors, followed by an investment in Renault do Brasil in 2025. Additionally, Renault and Geely, together with oil company Aramco, operate the joint venture Horse Powertrain for internal combustion engines. Nevertheless, Europe has remained Renault’s domain.
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