Renault Trucks has announced the creation of its Used Parts Factory, an industrial site devoted entirely to recycling trucks and reusing the parts and raw materials recovered from them.

The step follows the global truck major’s continued investment over the past five years into the circular economy, which consisted of a three-pronged approach of regenerating, repurposing and recycling used trucks.

The Volvo Group truck maker has been conducting numerous initiatives to extend the lifetime of its vehicles, such as remanufacturing used trucks according to strict industrial processes at its Used Trucks Factory in Lyon, France. The used vehicles are updated with the latest technologies in the reconditioning centre at the Lyon facility, and there are also used special-series models for sale.

The step to create the Used Parts Factory was backed by a preliminary feasibility study conducted in 2020 by Renault Trucks in tandem with the specialist Indra Automobile Recycling and ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency.

The dedicated Renault Trucks plant to recycle end-of-life trucks and reuse their spare parts will be opened in the heart of the truck manufacturer’s facility in Lyon–Vénissieux. The 3,000-square-metre plant, built as close as possible to the logistics centre, will handle used Renault Trucks vehicles with high mileages, along with some parts that still have substantial potential for reuse.

Adding that its vehicles and their components are in fact designed to last for over 1.5 million kilometres, Renault Trucks said: “To reduce natural resource usage and its trucks’ environmental impact, Renault Trucks is taking steps to transitioning its industrial operations to a circular-economy approach.

“Renault Trucks’ Used Parts Factory is the logical next step after the used trucks repurposing and remanufacturing operations conducted respectively in its Used Trucks Factory in Bourg-en-Bresse and its plant in Limoges. At this industrial facility located in Vénissieux, the brand’s trucks will be dismantled, and their parts reused.”

The truck maker explained that its end-of-life Renault Trucks will enter the Used Parts Factory to be dismantled. Operators will remove the components previously identified as suitable for reuse (engine, gearbox, cabin, fuel tank, bumpers, deflectors, etc.).

Once the parts intended for reuse have been removed, the other components will be recycled. The rails, for example, will be cut up then sent to the nearby foundry. The metal extracted from the parts will be used to manufacture a new vehicle. The components intended for re-use will then be checked, cleaned and labelled for listing and traceability purposes. These used spare parts will then be sent to the nearby Renault Trucks spare parts store, just like new spare parts.

Renault Trucks’ statement explained: “Like new spare parts, the used spare parts marketed under the label ‘Used Parts by Renault Trucks’ will be made available to dealers on the manufacturer’s online spare parts marketplace. These used spare parts will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty and their cost will be significantly lower compared to new spare parts.”

Regarding used parts for its old vehicle ranges, Renault Trucks sad it is continuing to work with Indra Automobile Recycling and will offer its dealership network a range of parts obtained through dismantling operations carried out by the recycling specialist.

“With this new offer, Renault Trucks is continuing its progression towards carbon neutrality. It is also addressing the shortage of components and raw materials that is impacting the industry as a whole,” said the French truck major.