Renault: Moroccans reinforcing the production of the R5 in Douai

In 2025, the Renault R5 E-Tech has established itself as the best-selling electric car in France, surpassing the Tesla Model Y. The milestone of 100,000 units produced was reached last November at the Douai plant, where this model now accounts for two-thirds of the site’s total activity.

To maintain a pace of 900 vehicles per day, the management had to set up a night shift of 600 people. This sudden acceleration aims to limit delivery times for customers, while the project management acknowledges not having anticipated such a commercial surge a year after the launch.

The manufacturer has turned to diverse recruitment pools to meet the urgency. In addition to using temporary workers from Morocco, Renault has mobilized employees from its Córdoba plant in Argentina and integrated Ukrainian and Afghan refugees to strengthen its ranks.

This production dynamic should lead to a stabilization of the workforce in Douai. The group has confirmed the continuation of local hires with the planned signing of 700 permanent contracts (CDI) within its ElectriCity industrial hub. In 2013, Michael and Yoël Zaoui left Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs respectively to create their own investment bank. The two brothers have since completed 250 billion euros worth of transactions.