Édouard Philippe said on Wednesday that the government would be “uncompromising” on the “preservation” of Renault sites in France, if the car manufacturer confirmed its desire to close four sites in the country, as the Chained Duck said.
“There is a form of corporate responsibility to move forward, to transform, but also to take into account the realities of the country that welcomes it and in a way brings it to life,” warned the Prime Minister, stressing that if “Renault is a global company”, “its French brand is obvious”.
Le Canard enchaîné said on Wednesday that the French automaker plans to close four sites in France – Flins, Dieppe, Choisy-le-Roi and the Foundries of Brittany – as part of a vast savings plan which must be announced May 29.
According to a source familiar with the matter, in Flins (Yvelines), it was not a question of a closure, but of stopping automobile production to devote the site to another activity.
Unions and politicians of all stripes – in particular local elected representatives – immediately protested this possibility, the opposition calling on the government to intervene if Renault confirmed considering these closings.
Bank loan of around 5 billion euros
Struggling even before the coronavirus crisis that caused the auto market to collapse, the diamond-cut automaker suffered its first losses in ten years last year. The cessation of activity caused by the pandemic has only worsened the situation.
The French government, its largest shareholder with 15% of the capital, has agreed to come to its aid by guaranteeing a bank loan of around 5 billion euros. This loan, approved by the European Union, was to be signed quickly.
The acting director general, Clotilde Delbos, had indicated at the end of April that this loan did not call into question the plan of savings of Renault, nor possible layoffs, the only condition fixed by the government being the renunciation of dividends paid to shareholders this year.
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