Renault Group aims to develop faster with Dassault 3D platform

The French companies Renault Group and Dassault Systèmes have announced the expansion of their 20-year partnership. The automotive manufacturer is poised to become the first major industrial company worldwide to use the so-called 3DEXPERIENCE platform from the 3D design software specialist to develop new vehicles and mobility services. The digital platform, which has also been utilized by startups like Evum Motors and Canoo for the rapid development of their electric vehicles, is intended to enable cloud-based real-time exchange of all product-related data throughout the entire product lifecycle. This will further drive digital transformation and is seen as an important step in the strategic plan called "Renaulution."

More than 20,000 employees to be globally connected

The most important trends in the transport and mobility industry—stricter regulatory requirements, more complex products, electrification, connectivity, sustainability, and new mobility services—require seamless networking within a cooperative ecosystem, the manufacturer explains. The platform integrates 3D design, simulation, and information intelligence software into a collaborative virtual environment, according to the supplier. More than 20,000 employees of the group worldwide are expected to work with the new platform, in areas such as design, product development, industrial engineering, parts and material procurement, costing, and quality. The platform is directly hosted in the cloud and provides access to software, 3D models, and simulations that are updated in real-time worldwide.

Virtual twins as the base

The planned collaboration based on so-called virtual twins—digital copies of individual parts—is intended to facilitate data exchange between different departments. This could reduce vehicle development time by about a year, enabling cost savings and increasing value creation.

"Our decision signals the importance of innovation and digitization in our 'Renaulution' strategy. Our transformation into a technology, services, and energy company must be collaborative," says Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group.

The system connects engineering with all disciplines in a digital company. De Meo hopes to gain agility, speed, and effectiveness and aims to develop new mobility faster than ever before.