Renault Aims to Cut New Car Development Time by One Year at TCR

On October 12, I visited the Renault Technocentre (TCR) located about 40 minutes by car from downtown Paris. This facility serves as Renault Group's research center, employing over 9,100 staff from 67 countries across a sprawling 1.5 million square meters, equivalent to 210 soccer fields.

Upon disembarking from the bus, the sheer scale of the complex was overwhelming. The TCR, composed of white buildings, is divided into various sections based on vehicle development stages. I explored 'Avancee,' the space for initial design of new models, and 'LaRuche,' where vehicle development takes place.

The central area, LaRuche, prominently displays Renault Group's commitment with a purple banner reading 'We are futuREady.' This reflects the long-term strategy announced by Renault Group in March, which includes launching 36 new models by 2030.

One notable area I visited was the Competition Analysis Center (CAC), dedicated to analyzing models from other automakers in the global market. A Renault Group representative stated, "We analyze all vehicles that are available for purchase."

In addition to market analysis, Renault Group is also focused on enhancing its internal capabilities. A prime example is the high-performance driving simulator, 'Roads' (Real time Open Automated Driving Simulator). This large dome structure resembles a fairy tale pumpkin carriage.

Inside the dome, a skilled technician boarded a vehicle mock-up, while the dome moved rapidly along rails to simulate the experience of being in a real car. It tilted significantly to provide a sense of speed, achieving up to 1G of acceleration in all directions.

The Roads simulator allows for precise verification of vehicle body movements, autonomous driving algorithms, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) performance in a virtual environment before actual vehicle production. Pierrick Cornet, Renault Group's Vice President of Digital Transformation Engineering, stated, "We are leveraging digital as a driving force in engineering," adding that the lead time for vehicle development will be reduced by one year.

The 'XR Innovation Lab' was another highlight of Renault Group's competitive edge. Inside the lab, there were chairs reminiscent of a kart racing game. I tried on XR glasses, which projected not only the passenger's hands but also their legs into a virtual environment, creating the sensation of being inside a vehicle. The driver's seat, passenger seat, and back seat were all adjustable. This digital twin technology allows for virtual assessments of display readability under different lighting conditions, legroom, and interior design without the need for physical vehicle production.