Car manufacturers are increasingly investigating the possibilities of working ‘circularly’. Renault has even built a special factory to make cars with signs of use like new again or even to provide them with a new, cleaner powertrain.
Down with the throw-away society, Renault must have been thinking when the plan arose to give used cars a new lease of life. The timing was right, because while there were no raw material shortages and delivery problems when the French brand unfolded its plans for this factory, this ‘refurbish’ method seems to be a bull’s eye for Renault in these difficult times.
Just like with smartphones
Renault found its inspiration in refurbished smartphones. A completely checked and functioning iPhone as new is not only cheaper, but also less harmful to the environment than a new one. Toyota also announced some time ago that it would start focusing on recycling cars. Renault started it a year and a half ago in Flins in northern France – one of the largest Renault factories, where the Zoe and the Nissan Micra are currently rolling off the production line.
Now ‘Refactory’, as Renault calls the factory, is still a small part of the factory in Flins, which employs 2100 people (600 of whom on a temporary basis), but in time it should have completely supplanted the declining production of new cars and around By 2030 there should be more than 3000 people at work, Autoweek writes. The Factory VO (véhicules occasion) has been running since September last year and can make 45,000 used cars as good as new per year.
Especially cars between three and five years old
This mainly concerns cars between three and five years old, which are taken care of by specialists in four different departments. The employees repair small dents, reconnect parts, replace parts, polish the paintwork again and do everything else that was found necessary during the check.
Refactory in Flins is primarily an experiment for Renault. The whole process of refurbishing cars is only profitable if it is done with nearby cars. Further away, transport costs quickly become too high to keep the process profitable. Nevertheless, Renault is already thinking about other locations. Turkey, Spain and Portugal top the list.
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