Renault Trucks UK delivers steady growth and sharp focus on decarbonisation in its End-of-Year Review
Renault Trucks UK used its end-of-year media briefing in London to outline a vision of steady growth, increased investment in its network and workforce, and a strong focus on electrification, despite acknowledging that it faces one of the most challenging operating environments for UK operators in years. Speaking at One Aldwych, Managing Director Carlos Rodrigues acknowledged that the market has softened significantly over the past 12 months, with medium and heavy-duty registrations falling 12% year-on-year. Operators continue to struggle with high costs, narrowing margins, reduced freight volumes, and a still-strained labour market.
He noted that confidence remains low as fleets delay capital investment decisions, even after the Autumn Statement offered little stimulus. Rodrigues highlighted that the sector remains closely tied to national economic performance, with GDP forecasts below 1% for 2026 likely to keep demand subdued. Despite this background, Renault Trucks UK anticipates its sixth consecutive year of market share growth, increasing by approximately half a percentage point each year across the UK and Ireland.
Rodrigues credited this to steady, incremental improvements rather than rapid expansion, emphasising that the network's installed service capacity has grown by 16% since 2021 to support this measured approach. He highlighted the brand's shift in perception: "We were not an aspiring brand six years ago. We are now a credible one, on the shopping list of many blue-chip companies," he said, crediting stronger products, dealership investment and the growing role of Renault Trucks Financial Services, which now funds more than half of all trucks sold in the market.
Leadership transition
The briefing also followed a leadership change at the top of the business.
New global President Antoine Duclaux has replaced Bruno Blin after a decade in charge. Rodrigues said Duclaux's decision to visit the UK market within days of taking office emphasised the region's strategic importance, describing it as one of Europe's most "mature, innovative and demanding" environments for both trucks and vans. More details on the new president's strategy will be revealed in 2026.
Decarbonisation: slow UK progress but rising pressure from customers
The company was candid about the UK's electric transition.
BEVs make up just 1% of HGV registrations, a figure Rodrigues called "quite depressing" compared with markets such as Switzerland (16.5%), the Netherlands (9.2%), and Belgium (3.2%). He reiterated that industry uptake is being hampered by high upfront costs, grid connection delays, charging limitations, and UK weight-and-dimension rules that remain out of step with EV realities. He urged policymakers to accelerate reforms, especially improving access to cheaper energy.
Rodrigues pointed out the significant disparity: a long-haul BEV tractor running 750,000 km over five years could cost about GBP90,000 more in electricity in the UK than in Europe due to price differences. "Cheap energy for transport will be vital for the transition," he said, advocating for a coordinated approach that includes grid access and more practical regulatory treatment of EV payloads and axle weights. However, Renault Trucks emphasised that electrification will accelerate rapidly as corporate decarbonisation commitments start to take effect. The company highlighted that 1,703 UK organisations have now joined the Science Based Targets initiative, with over 1,100 of them working towards 2030 goals.
Many of these businesses will soon require low-carbon transport partners as Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions come under increased scrutiny, boosting demand for BEVs even if the market remains small. Renault Trucks now has over 2,700 electric trucks operating across Europe, covering more than 70 million kilometres. Rodrigues emphasised that the brand can offer "proof, not promises" as fleets move beyond short-term demonstrations into real-world deployment.
Product update: expanded E-Tech range across long-haul, regional and urban
The briefing provided journalists with a detailed update on the next-generation E-Tech lineup unveiled at Solutrans.
Renault Trucks is positioning itself with what it claims is the most comprehensive electric range available today, covering urban, distribution, and long-distance operations. For long-haul and regional transport, three updated tractor units will form the core of the offer: the enhanced E-Tech T540 with a range of up to 450 km, the payload-focused E-Tech T585, and the high-capacity E-Tech T780 capable of up to 600 km. All support high-power MCS charging up to 720 kW, adding roughly 350 km in a 45-minute charge.
The T585 is expected to lead UK demand thanks to its 23-tonne payload and compliance with UK turning-circle standards. Rodrigues emphasised that most UK fleets do not regularly operate 6x2 diesels at maximum GCW, making the T585's 80% equivalent payload "more than sufficient for real-world use" while providing competitive range performance. He also welcoming Europe's increasing adoption of 6x2 EV tractors, noting that the UK's long-standing 6x2 culture "got it right from the start" for electric transport needs.
At the urban end of the portfolio, the new E-Tech D14 features a compact 2.39-metre width, a sub-7.3-metre turning radius, and a 6.7-tonne payload. It introduces LFP battery chemistry alongside existing NCA packs, offering up to 220 km real-world range and 43 kW AC onboard charging to simplify infrastructure for operators. Renault Trucks will support all E-Tech vehicles with a range of digital and operational tools, including Optifleet tracking, the Driver App for remote vehicle prep, and the 'Serenity Pack' to assist fleets during their first year of electric operation.
Connectivity & uptime: Predict to launch in early 2026
One of the most significant operational updates for 2026 is the launch of Predict, a data-driven predictive maintenance service that will become standard on all Start & Drive Excellence contracts for the T, C, and K ranges.
Predict utilises live vehicle data, AI analysis, and over-the-air diagnostics to detect early-stage wear or fault conditions before they lead to unplanned downtime, allowing dealers to intervene proactively. Renault Trucks stated that more than 60% of connectivity-related issues can be resolved remotely, with the rest addressed through coordinated workshop planning.
Network capacity, apprenticeships and workforce investment
Rodrigues reiterated that long-term growth depends on infrastructure that keeps pace with vehicle sales. Following the opening of the new UK Technical Training Academy in early 2025, the business now has 92 apprentices on its three-year programme, with 56 joining this year alone.
The aim is to double the pipeline to around 180 apprentices in future cohorts, ensuring the network is prepared for both ICE and BEV servicing needs. The network's expanding Van Centres remain a priority as LCV demand increases. Thirteen sites are now dedicated to LCV operations, with operators reporting strong performance from the new Master Red Edition across diesel and electric variants.
Renault Trucks met its ZEV Mandate obligations this year but warned that the national market remains well behind expectations, with BEVs accounting for just 9.2% of LCV registrations against a 16% mandate requirement.
Used trucks and future value
With Renault Trucks among the earliest to supply electric vehicles at scale, the UK used division is now beginning to receive second-life BEVs, including vans, trucks, and specialised vehicles such as refuse units. The company said residual values are strengthening across both electric and ICE Evolution models as demand improves.
Financial services and Vertellus
Renault Trucks Financial Services continues to broaden its scope, with digital contracting now a standard feature in the LCV sector and automated credit decisions integrated into sales processes. RTFS is preparing to finance not only vehicles but also charging infrastructure, consultancy, and ancillary equipment as fleets shift to BEVs.
Rodrigues stated that RTFS's flexibility is proving crucial in a market where operators seek more adaptable arrangements due to uncertainty. The Vertellus contract-hire venture, jointly supported by Renault Trucks and its dealer network, is also gaining momentum following its first sales and registrations in 2025. Rodrigues observed that the UK leasing sector is experiencing rapid change, with some major players withdrawing.
He contended that Vertellus' close connection to both OEM engineering and dealer support positions it well for customers seeking a single point of contact throughout their decarbonisation journey.
Conclusion
Renault Trucks concluded its End-of-Year Review by emphasising a simple message: that productivity, not marketing claims, underpins both its diesel and electric strategies.
The company expects conditions to remain tough into 2026 but believes its steady growth, network investment, and early lead in BEVs have laid the right foundation for the future. "For us, productivity is not a feature; it is the baseline from which we deliver for customers," Rodrigues said in closing.
More information:
Renault Trucks - renault-trucks.co.uk
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