NEW RENAULT GROUP BOSS BELIEVES IN DE MEO'S PLAN

In his first interview, François Provost discusses powertrain diversity, China, cost-cutting, F1 and why he's "a continuity man"

- STEVE CROPLEY

Compared with his slick-haired, sharp-suited predecessor, Luca de Meo, new Renault Group CEO François Provost has a decidedly professorial air about him. His suit and tie, his neat haircut and even his round-rimmed glasses speak of an innate conservatism.

There's no great difference in the two men’s ages: 57-year-old Provost is currently working through his 23rd year at Renault, while de Meo was just a year older when he left in July to swap the automotive world for the Gucci luxury goods empire.

Looks, you soon learn, mean little. There's far less difference between the way the two men answer questions. Provost speaks with a brisk directness and a pleasant candour not so different from de Meo's.

That directness certainly worked well on his first meeting with Autocar and select other media at the recent Munich motor show: our time was limited to 20 minutes, and by my count he managed to deal with a dozen well-aimed questions.

Asked if he planned to change the path for Renault set by de Meo, Provost said: “I’m a continuity man. Our central task is to promote the Renaulution plan, to build a strong lineup in Europe and then to renew it. Of course, we must be ready to react if internal factors change, but we have the Ampere and Horse divisions [for EV and ICE powertrain development respectively] to help with that.”