Renault Trucks City Lyon: Central Workshop for E-Trucks, E-Vans, and E-Cargo Bikes
Approximately 70 kilometers west of Geneva, in Lyon, the "French capital of gastronomy" and France's third-largest city, a centrally located logistics area at the port is currently being completed, the Hôtel de Logistique Urbain (HLU). After a construction period of around five years, transport and logistics specialists began their operations last year, which according to reports, primarily aim to transship goods into low-emission or carbon-reduced vehicles for "last mile" delivery and to optimize logistics through precise coordination of volume and delivery area.
Starting from the end of March 2024, the French truck and commercial vehicle manufacturer Renault Trucks also plans to begin operations there, initially using the location as a central hub for unloading and sorting goods. The pilot project named "Renault Trucks City" will also include its own workshop service for "customer-focused" maintenance and repair of medium-weight electric trucks up to 18 tons, electrically operated commercial vehicles, and battery-electric cargo bikes of the Lyonnaise brand Kleuster. Renault Trucks manufactures the mini-transport vehicles for Kleuster in one of its plants in the Vénissieux district.
The nearly completed logistics area at the port, with its two warehouses, covers a total area of around 29,000 square meters, approximately the size of four football fields suitable for international matches. Situated in the southern core area of the city, the logistics platform is not far from the headquarters of the truck manufacturer in the industrial area southeast of Lyon, where the Volvo Group company also has other facilities such as production units and workshops.
According to a press release, the truck specialist, which has been operating for 130 years and sells an average of 50,000 trucks annually (70,000 in 2023), now aims to support the entire urban logistics ecosystem with its "classic" workshop operation and be "present at every stage of the supply chain." The workshop, certified for the repair of electric commercial vehicles and a branch location of the Renault Trucks dealership in Corbas south of Lyon, is staffed by two technicians and has space for two trucks.
With E-Vehicle Rental
In cases where the necessary measures exceed the capabilities or equipment of the HLU workshop, the main workshop in Corbas can take over, according to the report. Additionally, the branch in the logistics area is also expected to offer vehicle rentals "for short or medium periods."
The truck manufacturer also reports that the project aims to improve "all aspects of the urban logistics ecosystem" and thus includes several measures not only concerning the vehicles to be used but also the surrounding structures. For example, the new location is intended to offer the "widest range of electric vehicles – from 650 kg to 44 tons" achieved as early as 2022, all compliant with urban regulations. Moreover, the company supports "the promotion of traffic shifts, the testing of mobile and modular locker solutions, as well as the optimization of logistics structures and loading and unloading systems."
Further Future Plans
The "Renault Trucks City" branch is referred to by the provider as a pilot project that precedes other initiatives. Similar activities are already planned in Paris and Marseille. Additionally, the activities are accompanied by a recently opened department for hauliers in Breda, Netherlands, of the Volvo and Renault Trucks dealer Bluekens, which focuses exclusively on cargo bikes and last-mile services.
In parallel with these developments, the company is also strengthening its position in the international market. In February 2024, Renault Trucks reported its plan to establish a new global spare parts distribution center, spanning over 46,000 square meters, at its headquarters in Saint-Priest southeast of Lyon by 2028. This modern logistics platform with 500 jobs, 4,000 square meters of office space, and the latest energy supply concept, intended to replace the old distribution center in Vénissieux, will see Renault Trucks investing a total of 132 million euros. In return, the axle plant located in Saint-Priest will be relocated near the engine plant in Vénissieux.
Renault Trucks, present in over 150 countries, employs nearly 9,500 people worldwide, 1,350 of whom are in research and development. The company has been part of the Swedish Volvo Group since 2001.
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