► Luca de Meo to leave Renault Group
► He held CEO position for five years…
► …and undertook its bold Renaulution plan
Renault Group has announced that its CEO, Luca de Meo, will step down from his post in the company.
In a statement, the Group says that de Meo will leave his role as CEO on 15 July 2025 to ‘pursue new challenges outside the automotive sector.’
The statement also includes a point that the Group’s board of directors, led by Jean-Dominique Senard, will appoint a new CEO ‘based on the already defined succession plan.’
De Meo has been mostly known for enacting the bold and ambitious Renaulution plan that was designed to turn the Group’s fortunes around via cost reduction, a streamlined line-up of products for each of the Group’s brands and big investment into tech and electrification designed to beat China at its own game.
Personally, he has labelled himself as a car enthusiast and is known in the industry for his confidence and his straight-talking approach to the issues facing the industry.
‘There comes a time in one’s life when one knows the job is done,’ says de Meo in the statement. ‘At Renault Group, we have faced immense challenges in less than five years – we have achieved what many thought impossible. We also have a strategic plan ready for the next generation of products. That is why I have decided it is time for me to hand over the baton. I am leaving a transformed company, poised for the future, to apply my experience to other sectors and embark on new adventures.’
Senard adds: ‘for five years, Luca de Meo has worked to restore Renault Group to its rightful place. Under his leadership, our company has returned to a healthy foundation, boasts an impressive range of products and has resumed growth.’
De Meo has led Renault Group to a successful product portfolio, including the new Renault 5 and Renault 4 as well as the expansion of the Alpine and Dacia brands via cars like the A290 and A390, and the new-generation Duster and Bigster.
For a while, he had been the odds-on favourite to take on the role as Stellantis’ new CEO after Carlos Tavares’ departure – a role that went to Antonio Filosa instead. His point about focusing on a role outside of the automotive industry is an interesting one.
We’ll update this story when we know more.
Jake has been an automotive journalist since 2015, joining CAR as Staff Writer in 2017. With a decade of car news and reviews writing under his belt, he became CAR's Deputy News Editor in 2020 and then News Editor in 2025. Jake's day-to-day role includes co-ordinating CAR's news content across its print, digital and social media channels. When he's not out interviewing an executive, driving a new car for review or on a photoshoot for a CAR feature, he's usually found geeking out on the latest video game, buying yet another pair of wildly-coloured trainers or figuring out where he can put another car-shaped Lego set in his already-full house.
By Jake Groves
CAR's news editor; gamer, trainer freak and serial Lego-ist