Groupe Renault - 2019 Universal Registration Document

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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GROUPE RENAULT

At European level Renault has submitted 14 projects under European financing programs, including Horizon 2020, ECF and EUREKA. These projects primarily cover batteries and charging networks, autonomous vehicles, safety and connectivity. The following projects attracted the largest subsidies in 2019:

Project 5Gcroco

Description

 Fifth generation cross-border control

ELSA

Use of second life batteries.

REWARD Vision xEV

Studying the best possible architecture for 2-stroke diesel motors

Development of tools and approved methods to support the tasks of component development and system integration for all types of powertrains/electric vehicles/hybrid vehicles

Research activities at the most prestigious universities, other universities, the CNRS (French National Scientific Research Center), etc. Renault continues its research activities with the academic world, the most prestigious universities, and other universities. Joint research activities are mainly carried out as part of subsidized collaborative projects, work conducted within IRTs and ITEs (energy transition institutes), and as part of studies involving doctoral students under industrial research training agreements (CIFREs). Renault hosted about 90 doctoral students under CIFREs in 2018. Slightly over 40 new topics have been proposed since June 2018. The authorization issued to Renault for the scientific validation of subjects by the ANRT since June 2017 makes it possible to streamline the validation and recruitment procedures for young doctoral students. Activities to promote the work of doctoral students were initiated in 2018 in the form of presentations within the company of the research conducted by the students. In addition, the framework agreement, which is still in force with the CNRS, makes it possible to facilitate the contractualization process for each of the support contracts signed with the laboratory hosting our doctoral students. It also makes it possible to investigate new areas of collaborative research and innovation with these laboratories for the future. Strategic agreement with the CEA The two previous agreements (batteries and strategic cooperation) signed in 2010 expired at the end of 2014. The partnership between Renault and the CEA (French Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission) was renewed under a single agreement covering all vehicle technical areas for a period of five years starting January 1, 2015. It brings together all collaborations between Renault and the CEA under one agreement focused on joint laboratories located on various CEA sites managing all CEA teams involved in Renault projects. The current agreement will be renewed at the end of 2019 for five years. 2019 represented total activity of €6.9 million and involved research, advanced engineering and business projects relating to such topics as electrical and power electronics architecture, electric vehicles, second-life batteries, 3D printing and mechatronics and quality control of processes in our plants. In addition, in 2019, Renault collaborated with a CEA robotics start-up to improve productivity in our assembly plants.

Outlook 2020 Collaborative projects remain a way for Renault and its partners to share engineering knowledge. We are therefore continuing to develop new collaborative projects in both France and Europe. We forecast some €6 million in terms of financial assistance (for all French and European programs combined), including €600,000 in repayable advances.

The PSA-Renault Research and Study economic interest grouping (EIG) Focus on the LAB

The PSA-RENAULT Research and Study economic interest grouping (a form of cooperative venture) houses the cooperation projects between the two manufacturers in shared fields of interest. Historically, the two main lines of work were related to the LAB (created in 1969) and the Groupement Scientifique Moteur (created in 1980). The LAB’s main areas of work are the analysis of road accidents, biomechanics and the study of driver behavior. The LAB’s work includes collaborative projects or European initiatives (such as the INDID and PEARS projects). It also studies the paradigm shift in road safety caused by the arrival of connected and/or autonomous vehicles (AutoConduct project, SAM), as well as critical scenarios in driving databases such as U-Drive and MOOVE. The LAB celebrated its 50th anniversary on October 9, 2019: “Road safety is a major issue for carmakers. And we have the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of the LAB, which is a unique global reference,” said Sophie Schmidtlin. Focus on the GSM (Groupement Scientifique Moteur) The GSM’s main areas of work are combustion and post-treatment systems to improve customer consumption and pollutant emissions. More specifically, GSM focuses its studies on the analysis of fine particles and their consequences on the environment and on secondary aerosols. Focus on the IRTs The work carried out on composite and metallic materials at the Jules Vernes and M2P Technological Research Institutes (IRTs) is also conducted jointly with the two automotive manufacturers Renault and PSA within the context of this EIG. Various projects are carried out jointly with the two manufacturers and other partners to optimize the costs related to research projects and share knowledge. Subjects covered include vehicle weight, materials resistance, etc.

82 GROUPE RENAULT I UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2019

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