Suspected Renault leaks ‘economic war’ – minister

The French industry minister has said a suspected industrial espionage scandal at the car giant Renault is like ‘economic war.’

Three top-level executives have been suspended without pay after highly sensitive information was allegedly leaked, putting Renault’s future electric car strategy at risk.

“It is a global danger for French industry. The expression ‘economic warfare’ might seem extreme but it is appropriate here. This is something we should definitely monitor in the future,” said Industry Minister Eric Besson.

The French government owns a 15 percent stake in Renault. Along with its Japanese partner Nissan, the company has stolen a march on most competitors, having already invested four billion euros in electric car development.

“It is a technology (electric cars) that is going to evolve,” said analyst Christian Harbulot. “We really have to anticipate the day that oil disappears. So it is a sector that is beginning to weaken, that is beginning to cause real worries, and so will spark a search for diversity, a search to remain in business at all costs. That is why the battles are being fought all the more fiercely.”

Alarm bells started ringing at Renault in August of last year and they began an internal investigation.

Next month, Renault is due to announce a future strategy focusing strongly on electric vehicles.

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