RAY MASSEY: President Macron attends Paris Motor Show to boost French car industry

That President Emmanuel Macron finds it necessary to attend this week’s Paris Motor Show says everything there is to know about the high regard in which French politicians view their motor industry.

Compare this to Britain, where similar motoring events struggle to get even a flicker of interest from the youngest ministers.

In the French capital on Monday, he was close enough to Macron’s security team to smell his cologne and the president was just a few feet away as the mercurial CEO of the Renault Group, Luca de Meo, prepared to present the latest products from your company.

So why, when French political leaders proudly display their love for the car, do UK ministers seem so uninterested (with some openly anti-car)?

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) notes that the UK automotive industry contributes £93 billion of turnover and £22 billion of added value to the UK economy, representing 12 per cent of total goods. of UK exports and generating £47 billion of trade. They typically invest around £4 billion each year in research and development.

Then there are the jobs. Companies such as Nissan, Toyota, Mini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and more directly employ around 198,000 people, reaching 813,000 in total across the automotive industry. At the Renault stand, Macron was very interested in the new Renault 4 electric car, which I had had the opportunity to see a few days before.

It is a renewal of a legendary family that proved to be a pillar of the French middle classes, and particularly of liberated women, for three decades from 1961, selling more than eight million. Now reborn as a versatile electric car for the 21st century, features that nod to the original include a power-retractable fabric roof. Hardtop versions have roof bars.

Wheels are standard 18 inches on all trim levels and models. A spacious 420 cubic liter boot includes 35 liters of underfloor storage compartments.

The new R4 range is understood to cost between £28,000 and £35,000 when it goes on sale from spring 2025.

Presented as a rival to the Tesla Model Y, the Citroën E-C3, the Kia EV3 and the Jeep Avenger, there are three equipment levels: evolution, techno and iconic.

The more powerful 110 kW (150 hp) ‘comfort range’ model has a 52 kWh battery and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 8.5 seconds, with a range of up to 400 kilometers.

Renewal: Ray in the photo with the new and versatile electric Renault 4

The 90 kW (120 HP) ‘urban autonomy’ model with a 40 kWh battery has a range of more than 300 kilometers.

In both cases, the maximum speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h.

After their tour of the main Renault stand, President Macron and his team headed to the Renault Group’s Alpine sports stand, hosted by the CEO of Meo and his team.

I don’t know if it was pure chance or if some clever guy from Renault’s events team was making a cheeky comment, but when Macron and his team showed up at the Alpine stand, what should be playing over the public address system. but Sade’s brilliant ‘Smooth Operator’ from the 1980s.

How appropriate.

We could do with some homegrown operators in government right now, especially when it comes to promoting our own indigenous car industry for the benefit of the thousands of people who work in it, the billions of pounds of revenue it generates for the UK plc and the millions of UK customers and overseas export consumers who buy its cars. It is in our national interest.

France understands it. Germany too. Wake up Westminster and Whitehall.

The UK government does not help the car market

Are you thinking about buying a new car but confused about the market?

You are not alone. It’s crazy. And the politicians are not helping. The Government wants everyone to drive electric cars, so it forces manufacturers to make them or face a fine.

Company car drivers receive generous tax incentives to switch to electric vehicles, but private buyers no longer do so, so sales are sinking. Then there is the lack of charging points.

Concern: Carlos Tavares, director of Stellantis (owner of Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen) has warned that the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire is under threat

Earlier this week, leaders of 13 major carmakers wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves calling for new grants and consumer subsidies to re-stimulate sales of electric vehicles.

Carlos Tavares, director of Stellantis (owner of Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen) has warned that the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire is under threat of closure unless pressure is relieved.

A decision will be made “in weeks.” I can’t say that they didn’t warn you, Chancellor.