Renault believes it holds the key to unlocking a new era in electric Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) with the Estafette, Goelette, and Trafic E-Tech models, all set to be produced on the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architecture developed by its subsidiary, Ampere. Essentially, Renault is resurrecting historic nameplates for its futuristic vans, initially part of the FlexEVan range of all-electric LCVs. Production will take place in France at the Sandouville plant, with market availability expected in 2026.
The trend of automakers reviving classic nameplates is growing, but Renault is particularly active, with the recent Renault 5 E-Tech hatchback, the Renault 4 E-Tech crossover, the Estafette E-Tech commercial van, and the upcoming Twingo slated for a 2026 return.
Suite à la présentation du concept au Mondial de l'Auto 2024, Renault dévoile la nouvelle Estafette E-Tech electric de série 😎!
📸 Crédits photos @renault_fr @renaultgroup pic.twitter.com/SowwD1SSfs
— Mondial de l'Auto – Paris (@mondialdelauto) February 10, 2025
The commercial vehicle lineup is equally ambitious. Alongside the Renault Estafette E-Tech, the Goelette E-Tech and Trafic E-Tech represent brand-new electric vans. These three models are the result of a collaboration with Flexis, an independent company established by Renault Group, Volvo Group, and CMA CGM Group, with the goal of “meeting a full range of business requirements.”
Built on a new “skateboard” platform and leveraging SDV architecture, this trio of compact, spacious, and adaptable panel vans is poised to offer innovative solutions for businesses undergoing the energy transition. They are designed as “intelligent vehicles, offering flexibility, ergonomics, and connectivity, with virtually infinite possibilities for customization and reduced running costs, while guaranteeing high levels of safety and performance.”
Après l'Estafette, la Renault Goelette aura droit, dès 2026, à sa nouvelle version E-Tech electric 😍!
📸 Crédits photos @renault_fr @renaultgroup pic.twitter.com/t95hW4JzgL
— Mondial de l'Auto – Paris (@mondialdelauto) February 11, 2025
The Renault Trafic E-Tech, now in its fourth generation, is less than 1.9 meters tall, facilitating access to many of Europe’s restrictive underground parking facilities. Its design features a one-box shape with wheels positioned at the corners and asymmetrical hinged doors. The Renault Goelette, originally launched in 1956, makes its all-electric comeback and will be available in chassis cab, box, and tipper variants. The rear section is “designed for a virtually infinite range of fittings and customized features, with structural parts able to accommodate a box or other configurations tailored to specific user requirements.”
Finally, the iconic Renault Estafette, a van popular in the 1960s, returns as an all-electric E-Tech model “tailored to the demands of modern urban logistics.” Inspired by the Renault Estafette Concept from 2024, it boasts a distinctive tall design: 5.27 meters long and 1.92 meters wide, with a roof height of 2.6 meters. This allows a person up to 1.9 meters tall to move between the cabin and cargo area without crouching.
Renault présente le nouveau Trafic E-Tech electric 😍!
📸 Crédits photos @renault_fr @renaultgroup pic.twitter.com/CmyB4VVNqp
— Mondial de l'Auto – Paris (@mondialdelauto) February 12, 2025
Sharing design cues with the Trafic E-Tech, the Estafette E-Tech features a large three-piece panoramic windscreen, a unique front lighting signature, a sliding side door with an integrated track, running boards, and grained black protective cladding on the upper and lower body sections.