Mobilize for Impact: Groupe Renault paves the way for sustainable and responsible mobility
S&O partner and co-founder of the Movement for Social*Business Impact, Groupe Renault promotes social innovation through Mobilize, an initiative that strives for diversity and change. Director of RSE Renault, Olivier Faust, and Mobilize Director of Social Business, Francois Rouvier, explain how and why the company chose to shift into high gear.
Renault publicly talks about its social responsibility to contribute to changing the economy and society in general. Through Mobilize, you want to encourage everyone to mobilize and work together for inclusion and sustainable mobility. How does this play out in more precise and practical terms?
Groupe Renault's mission is to be a company whose practices and products help build a positive economy and society for everyone. As a vehicle manufacturer and leading international company, our responsibility spans two main fields of action. The first focuses on inclusion by making mobility a driving force for economic and social growth. Our aim is to promote social entrepreneurship as well as all forms of diversity in the world of business. The second field of action centers on sustainable and responsible mobility by providing safer and more ecological travel for everyone. Here, the goal is to promote safer driving practices, to make all-electric vehicles affordable, to rank among the first companies to develop new industrial practices based on the circular economy, and to support the emergence of new forms of mobility.
Can you name a few Mobilize initiatives?
In each of its fields of action, Renault is committed to creating real change. In terms of inclusion and social entrepreneurship, the Groupe has put in place a network of Renault Social Garages, which repairs any vehicle at reduced prices and helps beneficiaries buy good quality used cars at a fair cost. Renault, along with a coalition of actors, launched the Club Mobility project that aims at easing access to brand new cars enabling beneficiaries to reduce and better manage their mobility budget. Additionally, the Groupe supports innovative mobility projects with real social impact in France through its impact investment fund, Mobilize Invest. With regards to environmental impact, we developed a program based on our leadership in three areas that are set to transform society over the next ten years: electric vehicles, the circular economy, and new mobility services. It has widely driven Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance to become the world leader in electric vehicles. Additionally, our road safety program involves developing cars equipped with the best safety technology as well as raising global awareness on road safety and the need for more responsible behavior. Finally, our program on diversity seeks to ameliorate the quality of life in the workplace for the men and women of Groupe Renault.
Can you tell us more about the scale and ambition of Mobilize?
In the fields of inclusion and sustainable mobility, much has been achieved in recent years. However, Groupe Renault is shifting into high gear by not only increasing the number of people benefiting from our actions at a local level, but also by increasing the number of countries in which our initiatives are deployed. Additionally, Renault is mobilizing the entire Groupe internally and externally by encouraging employees and our business departments as well as all stakeholders to embrace and practice the changes being made.
What do these initiatives bring to Renault and how are they transformational for the company?
By embedding corporate social responsibility projects at the core of its business, Groupe Renault has not only become a world leader in electric vehicles, but has also become renowned for making the safest cars on the market. Our drive to promote economic and social growth brings value to our employees and improves Renault’s appeal to the younger generation eager to find a stimulating workplace. Additionally, initiatives such as Mobilize Invest have largely fostered an entrepreneurial spirit within the company. Even if it is based on a “no profit, no loss” principle, it motivates and instills pride among the 4,500 employees who have invested a part of their bonus in the fund.
You have been part of the Action Tank « Social & Business » and the Social Business/Enterprise and Poverty HEC Paris Chair since the start of Mobilize.
Could you say a few words about your new commitment to the Movement for Social * Business Impact?
Renault has decided to take part in the Action Tank and Social Business Chair of HEC Paris for two main reasons: to help scale up our social business projects by exchanging with other companies dedicated to similar strategies, and to share with the academic world the outcome of our experience, which will consequently contribute to the research on this topic. The Movement for Social * Business Impact is developing quickly, and we believe it is our responsibility to remain a part of this movement, especially since it shares Groupe Renault’s mission to be a company whose practices and products help build a positive economy and society for everyone.
What are your expectations and objectives?
The Movement is now federating several big French companies, and we fully expect it to gain more economic and social actors around our ambitious goals founded on true social and business impacts. Based on the research conducted by the Movement, we shall expand the influence of social business practices and inspire new actors beyond French borders. Together, we will build an increasingly positive society and economy based on more collaborative methods.
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