Renault Suspends 3 Executives for Leaking Electric Car Secrets

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
January 5, 2011 at 4:45 pm

French car maker Renault has suspended three executives suspected of leaking secrets about its new electric vehicles.

Renault officials forced the executives to leave their offices on Monday after a five-month investigation. One source said the executives, including a member of the car maker's management committee, were caught “red-handed” engaging in industrial espionage.

Renault has actively sought to be an industry leader in the manufacture of all-electric vehicles. The French car maker and its Japanese partner Nissan are investing hundreds of millions of dollars a year to develop the cars.

In addition to being environment-friendly, all-electric cars can be driven many dozens of kilometers before they have to be recharged. Some models have been introduced in the United States, Japan and other countries in the past few months and several models have been sold out as customers pre-ordered them.

Renault plans to introduce two electric models costing from $26,700 to $33,000 in mid-2011, and two more later this year or early 2012.