Renault will build a small version of the electric vehicles that have become a common sight in Paris under the "Autolib" self-service hire brand, putting a big name behind the concept of purpose-built, rechargeable hire cars for the first time, reports Reuters.
The French carmaker unveiled on Tuesday a joint venture with conglomerate Bolloré, operator of the existing Paris Autolib fleet, to build three-seater versions of the cars at its Dieppe factory in northwest France.
Bolloré, which operates similar electric car schemes in Lyon and Bordeaux and is rolling out projects in London and Indianapolis too, currently produces all its four-seaters - known outside of the Autolib scheme as the Bluecar - in Italy under a joint venture with the car's designer Pininfarina.
Production of the new Renault-badged version is due to start in the second half of 2015 at Renault's Dieppe factory in northwest France, a Renault spokesman said.
The joint venture will be held 70 percent by Bolloré and 30 percent by Renault.
Launched at the end of 2011, the drab-yet-distinctive Autolibs with their stainless steel-look finish now number more than 2,500 cars using 5,000 recharging points in the French capital.
Read more of this report from Reuters.