In 2025, Luca de Meo is grumpy…

Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault group, seems to have started 2025 on the wrong foot and sees a cloudy horizon.

There are New Year’s resolutions and the optimism of early January, and then there is Luca de Meo’s approach. The CEO of the Renault Group spoke in a somewhat grumpy tone about the state of the automotive market, European regulations, and even the electrification targets that, according to him, sometimes lack realism. An unfiltered start to the year for the Italian executive, known for not mincing his words.

In an interview with our colleagues at De Tijd, de Meo was quick to criticize certain aspects of European regulation, particularly the increasing CO2 requirements. He emphasized that the automotive industry is in a delicate situation, caught between the pressure to innovate rapidly and rising costs to meet standards. “Manufacturers cannot solve everything alone,” he reiterated, calling for greater collaboration between institutions and industry players.

This outburst doesn’t stop there. De Meo also mentioned the “price war” initiated by some Chinese manufacturers, which he perceives as a serious threat to European brands. According to him, Europe must protect its industry while remaining competitive against aggressive global competition. These statements reflect the concerns of many sector players.

De Meo sees dark for others, and gray for himself

The impact of all this? Electric cars will be even more expensive—up to 40% by 2030! However, no need to panic for Renault. Despite this grumpy start to the year, Luca de Meo’s strategy remains ambitious. The group plans to launch several new electric models by the end of the year, including the highly anticipated Renault 5. With massive investments in technology and strategic partnerships, de Meo aims to show that he is ready to face the challenges, even if the road is expected to be bumpy.

In summary, Luca de Meo begins 2025 on a critical note, but his ambitions for Renault remain intact. Let’s hope he quickly regains his good humor and continues to shake up the sector with his characteristic energy.

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