Renault has cancelled plans to sell its electric Mobilize Duo quadricycle in the UK, ending production before the model ever reached the market and pointing to “limited profitability prospects” as the reason behind the decision.
The Duo, widely viewed as the spiritual successor to the Renault Twizy, served as the flagship vehicle for the Renault Group’s car-sharing and urban mobility brand, Mobilize.
Mobilize was launched in 2021 with the goal of positioning itself as a major player in what the company described as “everything beyond automotive.” Its scope extended well beyond vehicles, encompassing charging infrastructure, maintenance services, urban mobility solutions and vehicle remanufacturing initiatives.
At the time, Renault Group projected that Mobilize would generate as much as 30% of its total revenue by 2030.
The two-seat Duo, along with its cargo-focused Bento derivative, was developed as the centerpiece of this strategy. Both vehicles were designed primarily for short-term use through app-based subscription and sharing platforms, rather than traditional private ownership.
Although the Duo went on sale last year and was scheduled to arrive in the UK earlier in 2025, Renault has now confirmed that it is shutting down the Mobilize Beyond Automotive division and bringing production of the Duo to a close.
“Some activities developed by Mobilize Beyond Automotive are discontinued, either because they have limited profitability prospects or because they do not directly serve the Group’s strategic priorities,” the company said.
In addition to ending Duo production, Renault will also wind down its Zity car-sharing service in Milan, Italy.
Renault Group confirmed that Mobilize Beyond Automotive has ceased to exist as a standalone entity, stating that it had “fulfilled its role as an incubator and innovation driver by strengthening the group’s expertise in new areas, identifying and developing high-potential opportunities, and discontinuing less relevant paths”.
Despite the closure of the division, Renault said it will retain the Mobilize name for its financial services operations. The brand’s charging-related activities, including the Charge Pass subscription, the Mobilize fast-charger network and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, will be folded back into the wider Renault Group structure.
According to Reuters, the move is expected to result in the loss of around 80 jobs from the 450 roles previously associated with Mobilize Beyond Automotive.
Mobilize was a cornerstone of former Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo’s ambitious Renaulution transformation plan. However, with that overhaul largely complete, his successor, François Provost, is now reshaping the company’s strategy ahead of the reveal of a new long-term plan in the first quarter of 2026.
Also Read: 5 Cars That Stay Popular for Years vs 5 That Fade Quickly
