The Modern Era: Globalization and Electrification

As the 21st century dawned, French manufacturers faced globalization's challenges and opportunities. Renault's alliance with Nissan, orchestrated by Carlos Ghosn, showed how cross-cultural collaboration could work. French design flair combined with Japanese quality control. The arrangement preserved each company's identity while sharing development costs.

PSA took a different approach, maintaining independence while pursuing technical innovation. The company's diesel-electric hybrid technology, launched in the 3008 HYbrid4, provided four-wheel drive through electric rear motors—an elegant solution that avoided heavy mechanical systems. The radical Citroën C4 Cactus of 2014, with its protective Airbump panels and stripped-down interior, showed French willingness to challenge automotive orthodoxy.

French manufacturers also led in small electric vehicles. The Renault ZOE, launched in 2012, wasn't the first mass-market EV, but it was the first designed from the ground up as an electric car for European cities. Its innovative chameleon charger could work with any power supply, solving a major barrier to EV adoption. The battery leasing model made EVs affordable while guaranteeing battery performance.