Renault, one of France’s leading car manufacturers, may soon pivot into military drone production in Ukraine as part of a defense partnership spearheaded by the French government.
The company confirmed on June 8, 2025, that it had been approached by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces regarding its potential involvement in a drone production project, a significant shift from its traditional automotive business.
“Discussions have taken place, but no decision has been made at this stage, as we are awaiting clarification on this project from the ministry,” Renault said in a statement to Franceinfo.
The automaker, of which the French government is the largest shareholder with a 15% stake, stated that it may collaborate with an unnamed French defense company on the project, though it declined to provide further details.
According to Franceinfo, the production lines would be located in Ukraine, “a few dozen or hundreds of kilometers from the front.”
France to leverage Ukraine’s battlefield drone expertise
The revelation came after French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu publicly confirmed the plan during an interview with LCI on June 6, 2025.
“A major French car company […] will partner with a French defense SME to equip production lines in Ukraine to produce drones,” Lecornu stated.
While the type of drones involved has not been disclosed, Lecornu indicated they would primarily serve the Ukrainian armed forces. However, France’s military would also benefit.
“We will also allow our own French armies to benefit from them to have permanent tactical and operational training that reflects the reality” of the war in Ukraine, the minister added.
Lecornu further acknowledged Ukraine’s leading role in drone warfare, both in innovation and doctrine development.
“The Ukrainians are better than us in their ability to imagine drones and, above all, to develop the doctrine that goes with them,” Lecornu said, stressing that the partnership would include critical feedback from Ukrainian frontline experience.
Ukraine aims to produce over 4.5 million drones by the end of 2025, following a production of 1.5 million in 2024.
European shift toward defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine
Renault’s potential entry into the drone sector comes amid a growing wave of Western defense-industrial collaboration with Ukraine.
In February 2025, France’s Thales International and Ukrainian Defense Industry (UDI), also known as Ukroboronprom, announced a joint venture to develop technologies including air defense systems, tactical communications, and electronic warfare.
The same month, Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace revealed plans to jointly produce NASAMS air defense missiles in Ukraine, using both local infrastructure and Ukrainian technological know-how.
In September 2023, Turgis & Gaillard reached an agreement with the Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov Company to produce a localized version of its upcoming MALE drone, the Aarok, tailored to the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces.
If confirmed, Renault’s involvement would mark one of the first instances of a civilian automotive giant contributing directly to military drone manufacturing in an active war zone. The move also reflects a broader trend of European carmakers being drawn into defense production. In March 2025, Germany’s Volkswagen signaled it was open to manufacturing military equipment for the Bundeswehr.
