Renault is doing something very French in London this week, and no, it does not involve surrender jokes or existential philosophy. It involves bread.
On March 21, the car maker is marking National French Bread Day at its Battersea Power Station store with free baguette sandwiches handed out by food writer and social media personality Claire Dinhut, better known online as Condiment Claire.
The stunt, quirky as it sounds, connects directly to one of Renault’s more eyebrow-raising accessories: a wicker baguette holder for the Renault 4 E-Tech and Renault 5 E-Tech electric cars.
Claire, a French-American creator with more than a million followers across TikTok and Instagram, is expected to serve classic baguette combinations including jambon beurre and jambon fromage from 11am to 3pm, stock permitting.
Visitors who take or book a test drive can also qualify for extra merchandise giveaways, though entry requires advance booking.
Renault UK is clearly playing up its French roots here, and perhaps wisely so.
The Renault 4 and Renault 5 already trade heavily on nostalgia, cheeky design and a kind of retro cool that is easier to sell when there is an actual baguette in the room.
Both EVs are built in France, and both are currently eligible for the UK’s Electric Car Grant. Renault said the Renault 5 starts from £21,495 (RM113,000), while the Renault 4 starts from £23,455 (RM123,000).
It is, in other words, a car launch gimmick involving sandwiches. Slightly daft, a bit clever, and probably more memorable than another speech about electrification. Also, free lunch.
