Akio Lorenzo Oya, a journalist based in Italy, reports on the 2022 Paris Motor Show (Paris Salon). In the latter half, he discusses three trends revealed by the exhibited vehicles.

As has already been reported by the media, in October 2022, the European Union (EU) agreed to effectively ban the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles, such as gasoline cars, from 2035. That's just 13 years away. However, I do not believe that the entire region will progress as EU parliamentarians and officials devise plans in Brussels.

As of January 2022, the average age of passenger cars on French roads is 11 years. This is four months older than in 2020 (Data source: AAA data). The same applies to neighboring Italy. The average vehicle age has continued to increase for four consecutive years, from 7.9 years in 2009 to 11.8 years in 2021. Furthermore, one in four cars is now over 15 years old (Data source: UNRAE).

Of course, 2035 is a ban on new internal combustion engine vehicle sales, not a ban on their current use.

However, in an aging Europe, if household incomes decline and the population ages further, many people will undoubtedly continue to drive their existing internal combustion engine vehicles. One should not judge the European automotive environment solely by reports of EV adoption in Nordic countries.

Renault Group's plan to continue offering reasonably priced internal combustion engine vehicles under its sub-brand "Dacia" for the time being is likely because they are well aware of these regional characteristics.

However,Part 1as noted in the previous article, in major French cities like Paris, a no-holds-barred zero-emission policy is being pursued.

At this year's Paris Motor Show, numerous zero-emission vehicles and concept cars were unveiled, aligning with this urban direction. The common spice among them is "retro."

The prime example is Renault's "4Ever Trophy," which reinterprets the design legacy of the "4," produced for 31 years from 1961 to 1992, as an EV.

The manufacturer is seriously considering the revival of the Renault 4. For reference, Sandeep Bhambra, who leads the advanced design department at the brand, suggested to Italian media that the production model would feature a simpler design.

Another model, the "5 Turbo 3E," inherits the image of the 5 Turbo that dominated rallies, and is a little dynamite equipped with two in-wheel motors for the rear wheels.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo, who led the press conference, said, "I love historic cars."

What does this EV + retro signify? In the late 19th century, the Art Nouveau movement flourished in France against a backdrop of people exhausted by rapidly evolving industrial society. People sought solace in a return to 18th-century Rococo style and its fusion with natural flora.

Perhaps these EVs with a retro feel can appeal to people tired of electrified and high-tech cars.

However, the target audience seems to be younger generations who perceive retro as pop, rather than those who fondly remember the original models that inspired them. For example, CEO de Meo introduced the 5 Turbo 3E as "a car born for drifting." Gilles Vidal, head of design for the Renault brand, presented the matrix LED headlights of the 4Ever Trophy as something he "believes will appeal to young people."

Furthermore, Renault Group's current CEO, Luca de Meo, is the person who, during his time at Fiat, led the product planning for the 2007 "500," reminiscent of the 1957 Nuova Cinquecento, and transformed the brand from an "old man's" brand into a cool one. Therefore, the chances of success for Renault's retro & pop strategy are high.