We must save the Alpine car. This is the mission imposed by all the institutional and economic partners, gathered on Friday afternoon in the premises of Dieppe Méca-Energies, located in the Delaporte zone, in Rouxmesnil-Bouteilles.
Following the restructuring plan presented by the Renault group on May 29, the announcement of the outright closure of the Alpine factory aroused the excitement and general protest of local and regional political and economic decision-makers. Since then, the Renault group has taken a step back and the activities of the Alpine factory will continue until 2023. And after … what will it be?
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Develop
the brand
The President of the Normandy Region, Hervé Morin, invited the Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, to visit the Alpine factory in Dieppe. « It is important that he sees for himself the know-how of the employees and the investment of the companies that brought about the revival of this French and even Norman automobile brand. He announced in recent weeks his desire to relocate part of the industry to France. He just said it for the drug Doliprane, then Alpine, a pure Norman product … we don’t give up ! »
Ad that was shared by Sébastien Jumel (PCF) et Nicolas Langlois (PCF), mayor of Dieppe. « In addition, he does not know the city. » A meeting is already scheduled with the future Renault general manager, Luca De Méo, who will take office on July 1. « It would be a total inconsistency to deprive yourself of Alpine, added Sébastien Jumel. Remember that the assembly line was installed in six months and it is vital for the local economy. »
Patrice Gault, president of the Dieppe Méca-Énergies cluster, explained the importance of this meeting: « We have three years to act and allow the automobile brand Alpine to live after 2023. To be honest, we don’t know much. This is why I requested this meeting, in order to mobilize all the partners so that the Alpine adventure does not stop there. As a technician, it is a great car, a Premium model made in Normandy, which has been acclaimed several times as car of the year by specialized magazines. »
And to continue: « The Alpine project is very important for all subcontracting companies, many of which are located in the Dieppe economic basin. There are 385 employees in the Alpine factory proper and 200 suppliers, if we rely on the figures. This project directly and indirectly employs more than 3 500 people in the region. »
Patrice Gault added: « Three years is a very short time to act. Develop new Alpine models in the Technocentre design office located in the Paris region, plan a different engine to meet ecological constraints. To date, the design office is working on approvals and certifications. It is important to diversify production. Mono-activity, whatever the industrial field : it is fragile. »
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convenient
An electric Alpine …
The Alpine brand revival project really started in 2008, under the leadership of Carlos Tavares. The new version was released in 2017 from the Dieppoise factory and was an immediate success. Jean-Pierre Limondin, an Alpine alumnus adds : « The assembly technology is unique in the world, with bonding and riveting of the parts. It is inspired by aeronautics. »
To follow up on the A110, the engine must evolve with the possibility of creating a hybrid or all-electric model. A convertible, a model four seats or an SUV are being studied.
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Marketing deemed insufficient
After the resounding success of the Alpine revival A110 when it was released in 2017, the sale of the Dieppe sports car has slowed down and it has been halved to date.
VINCENT approves, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Rouen Métropole and lover of sports cars, said:
« It is necessary to develop its marketing not only on the French market, but also abroad. The sale of quality Premium cars is a space to conquer. I note that there is no Alpine center. »
Hervé Morin, added:
« The marketing of the Alpine was not offensive enough, unlike other brands of sports cars. There is only one point of sale per region (the Alpine branch in Normandy is located in Deauville, Editor’s note)
. It’s a little fair. It is possible to develop the sale of this car in foreign countries outside Europe. This would also guarantee continued manufacturing in Dieppe without eroding the number of employees. »
Only Japan has Alpine agencies on its soil. On this subject,
Patrick Boulier, president of the Dieppe maritime Agglomeration and former principal of a vocational high school, underlined:
« In Dieppe, there is training in car maintenance and the high school students are proud to join Alpine. It is inconceivable that this should stop. »
President Hervé Morin concluded:
« It is a car that is part of the collective imagination that deserves to promote it. It’s not just the French who love Alpine. »
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