I wasn’t able to find any verified statements by Xavier Martinet, the newly appointed President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe (from January 1, 2025) directly calling out Renault or Škoda in public remarks. Martinet’s background includes senior roles at Renault and Dacia, but there are no credible sources quoting him “firing shots” at those brands as of today.
That said, discussions around competitive positioning in Europe involving Renault, Škoda, and Hyundai are well‑documented—and it’s possible a misattribution or paraphrasing gave rise to the claim. Here’s what we know:
🚗 Industry dynamics: Renault vs. Škoda vs. Hyundai in Europe
Renault: Challenges and calls for flexibility
- Under CEO Luca De Meo, Renault has repeatedly pushed for “flexibility” in EV regulation, noting that achieving 100% electric production by 2035 may not be feasible without cost reductions and stronger consumer EV adoption support.
- De Meo has called for a European “Marshall Plan” to support affordable EVs, drawing parallels with China’s aggressive subsidies and urging EU-wide incentives for fleet renewals and smaller car manufacturing.
Škoda: Positioning as budget-driven competitor
- Škoda is actively planning to launch smaller EVs and cheaper variants to directly compete with French and Korean offerings in Southern Europe, targeting stronger value positioning against Hyundai and Renault.
Hyundai Europe: New leadership, strategic ambition
- Xavier Martinet, taking over Hyundai Europe in 2025, brings considerable experience from Renault and Dacia, especially around commercial services and aftersales networks.
- Under his leadership, Hyundai is expected to intensify efforts in software‑defined vehicles (SDV), electrification, and improving margins in small and mid‑sized EV segments—directly overlapping with Škoda and Renault targets.
🧨 The possible gist behind the “call‑out”
While Martinet hasn’t made incendiary remarks, internal strategy shifts at Hyundai Europe are clearly designed to challenge traditional rivals:
- Hyundai is stepping up software-defined EV offerings via alliances with affiliates (e.g. SmartThings integration), raising the bar in connected car features.
- Combined with Škoda’s push on affordability and Renault’s emphasis on small‑car EV profitability, all roads point toward an increasingly fierce battle for segment leadership across entry-level and urban EV markets.
📝 Why this claim likely emerged
- Misinterpretation or paraphrasing of competitive rhetoric—industry insiders often frame strategy speeches as direct jabs.
- Expectations built around Martinet’s Renault past—because of his background, any competitive statements get tied back to Renault or Dacia narratives.
- General “call‑out” tone is common in automotive reporting, but often lacks direct quotes or attribution.
🔭 What’s next under Martinet at Hyundai Europe?
- Greater emphasis on customer satisfaction and dealer network strength—Martinet took over Renault’s commercial services previously, and brings that lens to Hyundai.
- A renewed push into affordable EV mobility for European urban markets, likely targeting segment overlap with Renault’s small‑car ambitions and Škoda’s value EVs.
- Expansion of circularity and decarbonization efforts, following broader industry trends that Renault has been pioneering (e.g., recycling through “Future is Neutral”)—and where Hyundai may gain competitive ground from fresh positioning.
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