Renault has taken full control of the Flexis electric van project it has been running in conjunction with Volvo and French logistics firm CMA CGM. 

Flexis was set up back in 2024 as a joint venture between the three firms, and headquartered just to the southwest of Paris. It was tasked with coming up with an ultra modern range of vans that would use both the latest drive technology and cutting edge fleet management software that would work for delivery firms and drivers. 

The firm came up with ideas for three different vans, that will now be slotted into the Renault lineup. The first of the vans was already revealed at the end of 2025 – the new Renault Trafic E-Tech (read all the details about the new van here) goes into production at the end of 2026 and will be available in the UK at the beginning of 2027. 

The new vans are based on a skateboard-style platform that crams all of the important stuff in a compact footprint and gives the manufacturer freedom to put all sorts of things on top. Inside the skateboard there’s an 800V architecture for faster charging. 

The vans will come with either long range NMC or standard range LFP batteries aimed primarily at urban use. On the Trafic this will mean range figures of around 280 miles for the long range and 217 miles for the shorter range model. 

The other vans will be the Goellette and Estafette models, also anticipated at the end of 2026/beginning of 2027. The Goellette is based on the Trafic and offers more truck-like functionality on a smaller footprint. It will be offered in a variety of shapes out of the factory, but Renault will also supply rolling chassis so that customers can stick whatever they like on the back of it. 

The Estafette is particularly interesting – it uses an old Renault nameplate, but brings the van into the 21st century with a tall body on a compact footprint that’s designed especially for urban use, with such details as handles that can be operated with your elbows, standing room inside and smooth opening sliding side and rolling rear doors that require less effort. 

​Volvo will still be loosely involved in the Flexis project as it owns Renault Trucks, which has a partnership deal with Renault (not trucks) to distribute the commercial vehicles through its own network. 

Renault's new Estafette will be built in France on the same skateboard chassis as the new Trafic