Renault announced an investment of US$350 million to produce a pickup truck for export in Argentina

Renault Argentina presented to society Niagarathe prototype of what will be the new pick up that will be manufactured in its plant in Santa Isabel, Córdoba, from 2026. The production of this new vehicle will require an investment of US$350 million which will be disbursed over almost two years, according to the local president of the car manufacturer, Pablo Sibilla.

The presentation took place in a sunny noon in the gardens surrounding the main track of the Buenos Aires City racetrack. A little while earlier, Sibilla, together with the CEO of Renault Latin America, the Brazilian Luiz Fernando Pedrucci, They visited the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputoto give him the news in advance and take the obligatory photo.

Present at the meeting were: Luiz Fernando Pedrucci, CEO of Renault Latin America; Pablo Sibilla, President and General Director of Renault Argentina; Matías Maciel, Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability; Paula Camogli, Manager of Public Affairs; and the Vice Governor of Córdoba, Myrian Prunotto.

Then, in a frame more relaxedamong giant screens, tango and malambo dancers, a parade of horsemen and a generous welcome cocktail, the presentation was made for guests, press and friends.

In front of the French ambassador in Buenos Aires, Romain Nadal, the vice-governor of Córdoba, Myrian Prunotto, businessmen, officials and dealers of the brand, the directors explained that this investment is part of the International Game Planwhich provides for the manufacture of Eight new models in international markets outside Europe with a global investment of 3 billion euros.

The initial estimate of annual production of the Niagara pick up is 65,000 vehicles to combustion. But the figure It could be expanded and a hybrid model could also be added.But for this to be possible, the car manufacturer started negotiations with the Government to access the benefits of the regime for large investmentsbetter known as RIGI.

“The decision to invest in this sector was made before the approval of the RIGI. That is why we are now talking with Minister Caputo to complete all the necessary requirements to fit our investment into that regime. If we achieve this, that will be a good thing. will give us greater competitiveness to increase production volume, produce the hybrid model and increase export projections,” said Luiz Fernando Pedrucci in a press conference after the presentation in which he participated Scope.

Renault announced a US$350 million investment to produce a pickup truck in Argentina

The Santa Isabel plant where the US$350 million investment will be made It has the capacity to manufacture 150,000 units per year. and has idle capacity to continue manufacturing vehicles. In 2023, around 70,000 units were produced there.

In Santa Isabel Renault currently manufactures six models of the brand: Renault Sandero, Renault Stepway, Renault Logan, Renault Kangoo in its passenger and van versions, and Renault Alaskan.

The factory is about to celebrate its 70th anniversary since its opening. It currently employs around 2,200 employees.

The new Niagara pickup truck (for now it is the name of the concept carbut it is not confirmed whether this will be the name used in the end) will be a half-ton pick-up truck, which will only be manufactured in Argentina. The first objective is to supply all the demand in Latin America from Córdoba. And in a later stage the aspiration is to reach the European market.

“On the road to the 70th anniversary of our beloved Santa Isabel Factory, the launch of This half-ton pickup truck manufactured exclusively “in Argentina, it marks a new chapter in our rich industrial history in our country. With an export profile that will reach between 65% and 70% of production, we reaffirm the capacity and talent of the Argentine industry, consolidating it as a strategic pillar in our global operation,” said Sibilla.

This new vehicle will be the first vehicle manufactured in Argentina on the new Renault Group Modular Platform (RGM) production platform, which has an adjustable and flexible architecture, facilitating the manufacture of a variety of vehicles.

For example, they can have a vehicle length of between 4 and 5 metres, a wheelbase with four possible measurements between 2.60 and 3 metres, rear modules with 3 different lengths and energy sources and new engines that offer greater efficiency with respect to consumption and CO2 emissions: internal combustion, flexfuel (E85), LPG, 48 V mild hybrid advanced (light hybrid) and full hybrid (full hybrid), with front-wheel drive or 4×4.

In this regard, the CEO for Latin America highlighted: “In reality, what we are announcing today It is a multi-million dollar investment in a platform rather than in a vehicle model.. An investment in a platform is not an everyday thing. Companies do this once every ten or fifteen yearsat most. That’s why our decision to invest transcends any change in the political sign of the governments And that is why we say that this is a historic milestone for Renault.”

Regarding the way in which the investment of US$350 million will be carried out, in response to a question from ScopeSibilla explained: “We have already started to do the first disbursements. And from now on that we made the announcement are going to accelerate because we have to get the first prototypes out by mid-2025. That is why the bulk of the investment, sooner rather than later, will be concentrated in the coming months.”

Regarding the generation of jobs that will be represented by the manufacture of the new pick-up model in the Santa Isabel factory, it was reported that There will be 850 direct jobs and another 4,000 indirect jobsthroughout the entire ecosystem of auto parts suppliers.

After the meeting with Renault executives at the Treasury, the Ministry published an official statement. In addition, Minister Luis Caputo reinforced the announcement of the new pickup model through his account on X (formerly Twitter): “It will be ready in a year and a half. The decision is the result of the credibility gained with the automotive sector in these nine months of joint work and the approval of the RIGI. 850 new direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs.”