Renault Shares Plunge on Profit Warning, CEO Exit

Renault shares plunged as much as 17% after the French automaker issued a profit warning, cut its 2025 guidance, and appointed Duncan Minto as interim CEO following Luca de Meo's resignation. The company revised its 2025 operating margin target to 6.5%, down from at least 7%, and reduced its free cash flow forecast to between 1 billion and 1.5 billion euros from over 2 billion euros. Weak June sales and heightened competition, notably from affordable electric vehicles in Europe, triggered the downgrade. Renault plans to accelerate cost-cutting measures in response, but analysts warn of ongoing market pressure and leadership uncertainty. The company will share more details during its half-year earnings release later this month. This decline marked Renault’s worst trading day since March 2020.