The case of industrial espionage within Renault is said to have originated in China

Just a few days ago, Denns announced the suspension of three French executives of the brand (reportedly senior executives) over a case of industrial espionage involving the leaking of information about its electric vehicle programme. In recent hours, more details have emerged about the case that has France on edge, including its intelligence services.

The first suspicions about the origin of this espionage case point towards China, which allegedly stole the secrets of the EVs of Renault. The claim could well be well-founded given the track record of the Chinese in copying the design and technology of other brands, but it is still a desperate move on the part of Renault and the French government, and a somewhat hasty accusation.

Some of the bank accounts of the three executives involved, which received funds, have been traced, and these accounts are located in Switzerland. It is also known that one of the accused is none other than Matthieu Tenenbaum, head of the entire electric car programme of the French brand, and even the Chinese foreign minister has had something to say about all this.

Within the French company, people are awaiting the moment when the three suspended executives appear before the board of Renault so that criminal charges can be formally brought against them. Only one member of the company’s upper ranks, Patrick Pelata, has commented on the matter, saying that Renault is being the victim of a very well-organised international network, serving foreign interests.

Industrial espionage is nothing new in the vehicle industry; one need only recall the cases in which both GM and the very same Ford were involved. The case of Renault is not new, but its implications and the number of people involved could make it one of the most important of recent times.

Via | Financial Times