GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Oct. 17,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by the same mission
to decarbonise professional mobility, Renault Trucks, part of the Volvo Group, has joined forces
with Kleuster, a Lyon-based
electric cargo bike manufacturer, to accelerate the production and
distribution of the Freegônes e-cargo bikes. These cargo bikes will
be assembled at the heart of Renault Trucks' Vénissieux industrial
site and distributed through the manufacturer's European network.
Through this partnership, Renault Trucks is adding last mile
delivery solutions to its electric vehicle range.
With the expansion of low-emission zones (LEZ), booming demand
for last mile delivery, and increased environmental awareness,
agile and decarbonised transport is clearly the future in urban
areas. To address this pressing need, Kleuster launched its
pioneering Freegônes professional e-cargo bike 8 years ago.
Renault Trucks is equally committed to developing decarbonised
transport modes. The manufacturer is gradually electrifying its
vehicle ranges for customers operating in cities. To respond to the
demands of urban logistics, Renault Trucks has entered the field of
cycle logistics by partnering with Kleuster to produce Freegônes at
its Vénissieux plant. These e-cargo bikes are now being sold
through the French Renault Trucks network and in its European
network from 2023.
A Synergistic and Complementary Partnership
By joining forces with Kleuster, Renault Trucks is sharing its
expertise, industrial infrastructure, and large-scale production
capacity. Freegônes' assembly and logistics have moved to a 2,100
m2 building in Renault Trucks' long-standing Vénissieux site, which
also boosts the regional economy.
Renault Trucks has already put in place a production team of
around a dozen people to meet increasing demand. In the very short
term, production capacity will increase fivefold in comparison to
2022. This partnership reflects Renault Trucks' desire to
strengthen its positioning in urban logistics and prepare its
plants to take on new future-looking activities.
Kleuster's Freegônes is an outstanding product developed through
years of research and adaptations based on feedback, with an active
portfolio of key accounts working primarily in last mile delivery.
Nearly 200 Freegônes are currently pedalling all over France, some for more than 7 years, a
testament to their reliability and durability.
By integrating Kleuster products as a complement to its range of
electric vehicles, Renault Trucks is providing professionals with
an effective and innovative solution for last mile delivery.
Renault Trucks is now the only European manufacturer with such a
wide range of electric vehicles, varying between 650 kg and 44 t
GVWR.
A Partnership to Benefit Both Users and Urban
Mobility
The sharing of a common clientele also motivated this
partnership on the commercial side through the distribution of a
cyclo-logistics solution in the Renault Trucks network.
Using the truck manufacturer's distributors in several European
countries allows Kleuster to take full advantage of a dense and
local network to guarantee top-notch sales and after-sales
services. Renault Trucks, for its part, is adding another string to
its bow and opening up to potential new clients by covering the
entire logistics chain. Freegônes take over where trucks stop.
"E-cargo bikes can be a great option for customers in urban
environments that need to access zero emissions zones. Through this
partnership with Kleuster, Renault Trucks is differentiating itself
and taking the lead in offering even better solutions to our
current and future clients," says Bruno Blin, President of
Renault Trucks.
Kleuster Freegônes: Reliable, Durable, Cost-effective
Not only can Freegônes access roads, cycle lanes, pedestrian
zones, and LEZs, their small size and agility mean they can get
close as possible to delivery sites, and therefore, customers. With
its 80 km range, this e-cargo bike can be more productive than
a utility vehicle and more cost-effective, thanks to its low
carrying cost.
Built on a single body chassis, Freegônes is the only cargo bike
on the market that offers 5 modules (dry box, refrigerated box,
food service, flat bin, and refuse skip), each with its specific
features. While the Freegônes dry box has unmatched carrying
capacity (350 kg payload and 2m3 of useful volume), the Freegônes
refrigerated box is the only e-cargo bike to offer ATP-approved
temperature control ranging from -25°C to +4°C. The refuse skip is
the only e-cargo bike that can automatically unload into a tipper
truck or container in less than 20 seconds.
This modularity makes this e-cargo bike ideal for a variety of
uses, from collecting or delivering packages or groceries, courier
services, the craft trades, waste collection, green space
maintenance, and the food sector.
"Renault Trucks is the ideal partner to support Kleuster's
growth. The two companies are both committed to providing the best
possible urban mobility solutions in very densely populated
environments. Joining forces with Renault Trucks benefits both our
companies and contributes to environmental targets while also
meeting the needs of our current and prospective customers," says
Gérard Têtu, Founder and CEO of Kleuster.
About Kleuster
Aware of the challenges of urban mobility, Gérard Têtu founded
Kleuster in 2012, manufacturer of the electric-assisted cargo bike
Freegônes. The ambition of the French company based in Lyon and its twenty employees: to offer a
reliable, sustainable and profitable work tool to professionals
operating in urban areas with high population density.
The Freegônes, based on a single chassis, accommodates 5 modules
(dry cell, refrigeration cell, food, tray and waste bin) and is
aimed for a wide range of uses. The Kleuster solution has been
tested by a hundred professionals such as Véolia, Intermarché,
Leclerc Drive, Lime, Cityscoot, Métropole de Lyon, etc…. Kleuster Freegônes is available
starting at €319 excluding tax per month.
In 2020, Kleuster joined the Jean Lain Mobilités group, Top 20
automotive distribution groups in France present in the French Alpine arc and
brings together more than 1,800 employees. Jean Lain Mobilités
generated consolidated sales of €850 million in 2021. More info on:
www.jeanlain.com
About Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks, the French truck manufacturer, has been
providing professionals with transport solutions since 1894, from
light commercial vehicles to heavy duty tractors. Committed to
energy transition, Renault Trucks offers fuel efficient vehicles
and a complete range of 100% electric trucks, with their operating
life extended through a circular economy approach.
Renault Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's
leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and
industrial and marine engines. The group also provides complete
financing and service solutions.
Key figures:
9,450 employees worldwide
4 production sites in France
1,400 sales and service points worldwide.
54,000 vehicles sold in 2021
For additional information:
www.renault-trucks.fr/communiques-de-pressewww.kleuster.com
Séveryne Molard
+33 (0)4 81 93 09 52
severyne.molard@renault-trucks.com
Agence Plus2sens
Leslie Brunner
06 76 33 55 15
leslie@plus2sens.com
Quentin Pechoux
04 37 24 02 58
quentin@plus2sens.com
Laurence Nicolas
06 64 50 59 50
laurence@plus2sens.com
Kleuster press contact
Alice Thuot
Tel. +33 (6) 65 49 09 69
athuot@kleuster.com
The following files are available for download:
https://mb.cision.com/Main/39/3648456/1638800.pdf
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SOURCE AB Volvo