Renault Might Make Daimler, Nissan Cars in France

Renault SA wants its hourly workers in France to agree to extend their workweek by 6.5% to 35 hours, and the company is dangling the promise of added production as an inducement, Reuters reports.

Renault has told its French unions that if they accept cost-cutting measures, the company might build vehicles at its domestic factories for Daimler AG and alliance partner Nissan Motor Co.

Renault has said it aims to align labor costs and productivity at its French plants with those at its more efficient factories in Spain and the U.K.

The company says subsequent bargaining would determine how it compensates workers for the extended hours. Renault estimates that increasing its French factory hours to the national standard would save about €65 million per year.

The company currently produces the Mercedes-Benz Citan light commercial van, a version of the Renault Kangoo, for Daimler in northern France.