“For two or three years Renault has not been in great shape, we did not need that in the current context, it is an additional anxiety”, worries Jean-François Pibouleau, central CGT union representative.

"The crisis of the components like the evolution of the geopolitical situation in a context of open economy (...) highlights the vulnerability of large groups like ours", for its part reacted the CFDT in a press release, calling to create 100% integrated "production plates".

The impact of the suspension of Renault's Russian activities is initially expected to be limited because "we are not receiving any parts from Russia", assures Jean-François Pibouleau for whom "the semiconductor crisis" remains the major annoyance. from the moment.

Only the Le Mans factory supplied some elements to Russia, in particular "chassis or rotating elements", according to the CGT.

"The impact will be much more financial, on the results," said Mariette Rih, central FO union representative.

Renault has warned that it is "forced to review its financial outlook for the year 2022 with a group operating margin of around 3%", against more than 4% previously.

In anticipation, Renault plans to record an adjustment charge of 2.195 billion euros in its accounts for the first half, the value of its assets in Russia.

The French manufacturer has a factory in its own name near Moscow, which employs 2,500 people and produces SUV Duster, Kaptur, Arkana, and Nissan Terrano.

All employees "have been put on leave", said Jean-François Pibouleau.

"We asked HR (human resources) to keep us informed quickly of what they are planning so that employees suffer as little as possible," he added.

Above all, Renault controls 69% of AvtoVAZ, the major Russian manufacturer which produces the two best-selling cars in Russia, the Lada Vesta and Granta.

The 40,000 employees at the Togliatti plant have been on leave since March 16 for three weeks due to a shortage of imported components.

The French manufacturer has planned to evaluate "the possible options concerning its participation".

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had denounced before the French National Assembly the presence of Renault in Russia while the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kouleba, called for a boycott.

"We don't agree with that because the boycott is the employees who suffer it immediately," lamented the CGT.

© 2022 AFP