From Engines to Elegance: Renault’s Luca de Meo Trades Horsepower for Haute Couture

In a move few anticipated, Renault has announced the impending departure of Luca de Meo, the man who spent nearly five years trying to breathe new life into the automaker. The board expressed gratitude for his contributions, confirming he will remain in his role until July 15, 2025.

De Meo was a central architect behind the Renaulution strategy, a plan that pushed for the adoption of a new shared CMF-B platform and a ruthless streamlining of the aging model lineup.

Now, however, he is poised to steer an entirely different kind of legacy forward. According to a leak from French daily Le Figaro, de Meo is shifting lanes into luxury fashion, where he will take the helm of the Kering group, home to giants like Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Balenciaga.

Renault’s next driver remains a mystery. What seems certain is that another wave—or perhaps an outright revolution—awaits, one that will demand equal parts creativity and improvisation.

The half-decade under de Meo's command flew by. His legacy includes cost-cutting efforts, collaboration plans with Geely, and bold visions for synergy and survival. All eyes now turn to his successor, and whether they can take these blueprints and put them into motion.