French Government Terms Renault EV Espionage "Economic Warfare"
France’s industry minister Eric Besson lashed out at those who may have attempted to steal EV secrets from the French automaker Renault using the language of international relations rather than economics. He tells RTL Radio [via Automotive News Europe [sub]]All I can tell you is that the matter seems serious, that it illustrates once again the risks our companies face in terms of industrial espionage, and economic intelligence, as we call it today. It is an overall risk for French industry. The expression ‘economic warfare’, sometimes extreme, is appropriate and this is something we should monitor in future.
On the one hand, it should be noted that the strategy of “all electric” Carlos Ghosn is widely criticized in-house, including the Department “engine” but not only.
According to our records, opponents also exist in the ranks of leading executives.
Another intriguing but Google Translate-garbled passage notesAccording to information revealed by our colleagues in Paris, the main problem would be leaked on the question of the manufacture of batteries for future electric vehicles, for which Renault has a number of patents in the pipeline.A possible reconciliation with a subcontractor that was not originally selected would also be a topic of the questioning of the three white collar workers.
In any case, Renault sources note that suspensions without pay do not usually last long, and that the three executives will likely face dismissal or exoneration soon. In addition to Balthazard (Renault’s Vice President Pre-engineering, Projects and Requirements), his assistant Gerard Rochette and an assistant to Renault’s head of electric vehicles, Matthew Tenenbaum are under suspension.More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Would the US Government have the balls to make that statement? One cross word about the Chinese and the end of the USA could happen quickly.
This is highly ironic considering the French are considered to be the masters at industrial espionage.