Renault plans to kill off three nameplates – including the long-running Scénic badge – as part of a cost-cutting drive, according to a new report.
Reuters, citing as many as four unnamed sources “close to” the French firm, says Renault hopes to slash costs by €2-billion over the next three years.
According to one of the sources, the Scénic, Espace and Talisman are all facing the axe.
“The project is not yet completely set in stone but the Espace, the Scénic and the large sedan Talisman should already be considered scrapped from the future product programme; it is practically a given that these models will stop,” the source told Reuters.
“In short, [there will be] fewer minivans and sedans and a focus on crossovers and SUVs,” the source confirmed.
Although the Scénic and Espace are no longer offered in South Africa, the nameplates will be familiar to many local motorists. The Talisman, however, was never offered here in SA.
Currently in its fifth generation, the Espace first hit the market in 1984. The Scénic, meanwhile, has been built since 1996, with the fourth-generation version being unveiled in 2016. The Talisman has been produced since 2015.
Renault’s alliance partner Nissan is likewise preparing to embark on a cost-cutting effort, which will reportedly see the demise of the Datsun brand.
