EVs get breakdown cover

Renault and Nissan have signed a Europe-wide assistance deal for their range of electric vehicles.

The move is designed to offer security and back-up to early adopters of Renault-Nissan’s EVs, starting next year with the Leaf and, in the second half of 2011, the Kangoo, Fluence and Twizy.

AXA Vehicle Assistance won the tender for the contract, which will cover 21 European countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Renault-Nissan described the deal as “the first step in this global approach to preparing for the wide-scale launch of electric vehicles”. AXA is already introducing training schemes at its roadside assistance partners in preparation for the scheme.