French automaker Renault will release an all-electric version of its Twingo hatchback in 2020, the company has confirmed in its 2019 global sales results report.
A popular A-segment car on the European market, an electric version of the Renault Twingo would compliment the all-electric Zoe which experienced a growth in sales of nearly 20% in Europe in 2019.
The Driven first heard rumours that Renault was ramping up its electrification strategy when a secret production timeline came to light, then an update to that calendar in September 2019 showed that a fully electric Renault Twingo was planned for 2022.
Now the latest 2019 sales report from Groupe Renault suggests that the Twingo will emerge as an all-electric vehicle as early as 2020 and not 2022, as originally planned:
For the group, 2020 will mark a new stage in its electric offensive with the launch of Twingo ZE and the deployment of its new E-Tech hybrid and plug-in hybrid offers.
The statement by the company is backed up by executive VP for sales and regions for Groupe Renault, Olivier Murguet, who said in the release of the report that, “in 2020, we will benefit from full-year sales of our best-selling New Clio and New Captur, as well as the acceleration of our electric and hybrid offensive, notably with New Zoe, Twingo Z.E. and E-Tech technology.“
According to UK auto news site Auto Express, it is thought that the Twingo Z.E. will be officially debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show from March 5-15 2020, and that it will share the same platform as the 17.6kWh Smart EQ ForFour, which should give it around 140-150km driving range on a single charge.
Sales in Europe are expected to follow sometime after that. Renault already makes the all-electric Zoe which is available in Australia, and while a new 2020 Zoe has already gone on sale in Europe it is not yet known when that EV or the Twingo Z.E., will come to Australia – we have reached out to Renault Australia and will keep you posted.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.