Renault and the Volvo Group have established a new start-up that aims to flip the European commercial vehicle sector on its head with a range of highly modular electric vans. Called Flexis, it aims to capitalise on growth in demand for zero-emission commercial vehicles, which is expected by its creators to rise by 40% each year until 2030. Explaining its ambitions, Renault Group chief Luca de Meo said: “This is the Tesla of the commercial vehicle in a way. That's the way you have to see it.
” Philippe Divry, CEO of Flexis, said that ease of operation is also a key consideration. He elaborated: “A lot of logistics companies see their drivers changing jobs after 12-18 months, so you have to imagine changing your whole workforce every 12-18 months. “If we can make our vehicle more easy to drive, more friendly for people who deliver 100 or 150 packages a day, and we can keep them longer on the job, that is much more value – much less disturbance in the customer’s operation.