Business · Companies · 1 day ago
Renault to help France produce drones faster and at lower cost
France’s arms procurement agency asked Renault in July 2024 to help make drones using car-industry production methods.
Renault is working with six defense companies, including Turgis Gaillard and Thales, to adapt their designs for faster assembly.
The aim is to produce drones in much larger numbers and at lower cost than traditional aerospace methods allow.
For example, the Chorus drone is being redesigned so its wings and body can be welded automatically, and it will use a less expensive engine.
It is planned for production in Le Mans, in western France, with capacity for several hundred drones a month.
Renault has shown its factory methods, but is waiting for orders and for drone production lines to be put into operation.
The effort is part of a wider push to involve carmakers and their suppliers in French drone production.
Renault will help France’s Directorate General of Armaments produce drones in large numbers and at lower cost.
The effort aims to help France catch up with major players in the drone sector.
Renault plans to apply its factory production methods to designs developed by defence companies.
The Chorus long-range strike drone is planned for production in Le Mans, with capacity for several hundred units a month.
It will use a combustion engine rather than a turbojet to cut costs.
- Who
- Renault and France’s Directorate General of Armaments, working with defence companies.
- What
- Renault will help industrialise and mass-produce drones using its manufacturing expertise.
- When
- The Directorate General of Armaments contacted Renault in July 2024; the article was published on 10 October 2026.
- Where
- France, including Renault’s Batilly plant and planned Chorus production in Le Mans.
- Why
- To increase production, help France catch up with major players in the sector and reduce costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
When you have to make one unit every two hours rather than one every fifteen days, you rethink the way you assemble it: instead of 14 screws, you use two screws and three clips. We seek to reduce the number of actions as much as possible.
It was a culture shock. The first thing we did was count the screws, which surprised them. There were 200 for a one-metre wingspan.
With a combustion engine costing 15,000 euros instead of a turbojet costing 700,000 to 800,000 euros, it will be able to go just as far, but more slowly.
France’s Directorate General of Armaments contacted Renault about producing drones.
Six defence companies agreed to let Renault dismantle their drones to help speed up production.
Partnerships with Turgis Gaillard and Thales were finalised.
Renault opened its Batilly plant to the press while awaiting orders and the start of drone production lines.
- Production rate cited
- One drone every two hours rather than one every fifteen days
- Chorus planned capacity
- Several hundred drones per month
- Chorus combustion engine cost
- 15,000 euros
- Turbojet cost
- 700,000–800,000 euros
- Planned Chorus production site
- Le Mans, western France
- Renault factory opened to the press
- Batilly, near Metz, eastern France
Sources
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