The Automotive Update: Renault Group’s CEO search and BYD makes waves in Brazil
20 June 2025
Luca de Meo announces he is leaving Renault Group and BYD makes waves in Brazil with its car deliveries. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus discusses the latest industry news in The Automotive Update podcast.
Who is tipped to be the next Renault Group CEO? Why is BYD’s boatload of vehicles making waves with Brazilian industry officials? How has Norway’s EV market outperformed other European countries?
Elsewhere, which carmakers are adapting their future powertrain plans? What models are facing recalls? What is the effect of US tariffs on German brands? All these questions are answered in this week’s podcast.
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Renault’s new CEO search
Renault Group is searching for a new CEO after Luca de Meo confirmed he is stepping down after five years in the role. He will officially leave the role on 15 July.
‘We have a strong team and an agile organisation. We also have a strategic plan ready for the next generation of products. That is why I have decided it is time for me to hand over the baton,’ said de Meo.
Dacia’s CEO, Denis Le Vot, is a strong contender to fill the position, Reuters reported. Maxime Picat, chief purchasing and supplier quality officer at Stellantis, is also considered to be a favourite.
BYD makes waves
The world’s largest car-carrying ship, BYD Shenzhen, arrived in Brazil at the end of May. The Chinese brand is looking to take an early hold of the market with its affordable vehicles.
This was BYD’s fourth ship to dock in the country this year. Reuters calculated that this means around 22,000 vehicles have been dropped off in Brazil by the carmaker so far in 2025. This could prove advantageous, with the country still in the early stages of its transition to green mobility.
However, this has made waves with Brazilian automotive industry officials and labour leaders. They fear local carmakers could struggle to keep up with a wave of new entrants, hurting domestic production and jobs. They are calling for the acceleration of a plan to raise Brazil’s electric vehicle (EV) import tariffs to 35%.
Exploring Norway’s EV success
Norway has become renowned for its exceptionally high EV adoption rate. Plug-ins took a 91.7% share of the country’s market in 2024. In comparison, Sweden and Denmark recorded EV shares of 58.4% and 54.9% last year. Out of Europe’s big five new-car markets, the UK had the highest market share at 28.1%.
Broken down, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) dominate Norway’s EV sector. They made up 96.3% of plug-in registrations from January to April 2025. In this period, BEV deliveries improved by 32.2% year on year.
The country’s plug-in share saw strong growth from 2015 to 2020. Since then, PHEV’s market hold has dropped dramatically, while BEVs have continued to increase their control. EV Volumes forecasts that BEVs will take complete control of Norway’s new-car market in 2027.
While there are no purchase subsidies available in the country, tax incentives help further boost adoption. Residents in apartment buildings can also request the installation of a personal EV charging point.
Additionally, Norway’s charging infrastructure has been given a boost. For example, new parking lots must dedicate at least 6% of spaces to EVs. Major roads also have charging stations available every 50km.
EV plans on hold?
Some carmakers have confirmed changes to their powertrain plans. Audi will not phase out the production of cars with internal-combustion engines by 2033, as reported by Autocar.
Ferrari has delayed plans for its second BEV, which was due in 2026. The model can now be expected in 2028. Meanwhile, BMW is considering offering extended-range electric vehicles, according to Automobilwoche.
Waves of recalls
This week has seen several recalls from carmakers. In France, 82,000 Citroen C3 and DS3 vehicles made between 2014 and 2019 are being taken off the roads. This is due to faulty Takata airbags, Reuters reported.
Ford has halted deliveries of its Mustang Mach-e due to a door latch defect, electrive wrote. The issue affects 316,00 units globally from model years 2021 to 2025. Honda is recalling 259,033 vehicles in the US because of a faulty brake pedal, according to Reuters.
Half a billion
Hildegard Müller, president of the VDA, outlined her expectations of how much US import tariffs have cost German carmakers.
‘We have roughly estimated that German manufacturers probably incurred additional costs of around €500 million in their export business from Germany to the US in April,’ Müller said to the Funke media group, as reported by Reuters.
