Renault Master E-Tech Electric

Renault

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automotive
Founded	February 25, 1899 (1899-02-25) in France
Founder	Louis Renault, Marcel Renault, Fernand Renault
Headquarters	Boulogne-Billancourt , France
Products	Automobiles, commercial vehicles, automotive parts
Owner	Renault Group
Website	www.renault.com

The Renault Master is a sizable van produced by the French automaker Renault since 1980, currently in its third iteration. It succeeded earlier light commercial vehicles such as the Renault Super Goélette. In Europe, the second and third generations are also marketed by Opel as the Opel Movano and in the UK as the Vauxhall Movano. All versions have been engineered and manufactured by Renault, with heavier-duty models branded under Renault Trucks as the Renault Trucks Master.

A variety of configurations have been available, including standard vans, larger variants offering increased cargo volume and height, as well as extended wheelbase options (marked with an LWB prefix). Although panel vans constitute the majority of the range, pickup truck versions have also been offered. More robust models were sold through Renault Trucks under the B series name, which was later rebranded as the Messenger and eventually the Mascott.

First generation (1980–1997)

Introduced in September 1980, the initial Master was equipped with a Fiat-Sofim diesel engine, with an additional unit added in 1984. Petrol-powered variants were rare and utilized 2.0 L or 2.2 L Renault engines. In 1990, the earlier engine was replaced by a larger Sofim diesel unit.

The Master was positioned alongside Renault's smaller commercial vehicle, the Renault Trafic, which debuted in the same year, and took over from the Dodge-based Renault 50 Series following Renault's acquisition of UK manufacturing facilities amid Peugeot's takeover of Chrysler Europe.

Notable for its sliding door mechanism and circular door handles reminiscent of the Fiat Ritmo, production took place at Renault’s SoVAB facility located in Batilly, northeastern France.

Renault B series / Messenger

Renault Trucks introduced a more heavy-duty version called the Renault B70 through B120, first appearing in late 1982 as the B70 (diesel) and B80 (petrol). This light truck incorporated a Renault Master I body mounted on a separate chassis featuring rear-wheel drive and dual rear wheels.

The B series came with multiple body style options. While the Master and smaller Trafic carried Renault automobile division badges, production numbers for RVI declined as older models like the SG2 and SG3 were phased out. The model was launched in the UK in 1990 as a replacement for the Chrysler Europe-developed Dodge/Renault 50 series.

In 1982, responsibility for the heavier B series shifted to RVI, which introduced progressively more powerful engines equipped with turbochargers and intercoolers.

A 4x4 B90 variant competed in the 1987 Paris Dakar Rally, but civilian versions of the B90 4x4 only became available starting in 1990 and remained on sale until 1999. In 1993, following a grille redesign, this range was renamed Messenger. It was eventually succeeded by the Renault Mascott.

Second generation (1997–2010)

The second-generation Renault Master debuted in November 1997 featuring a conventional design primarily developed by Renault. Starting in 1998, it was also sold under the names Opel Movano (and Vauxhall Movano in the UK), and from 2003 onwards as the Nissan Interstar, reflecting Renault’s partnership with Nissan.

This collaboration paralleled other industry platform-sharing arrangements such as those between Fiat and Peugeot/Citroën or Volkswagen and Mercedes.

Under an agreement made in July 1994 between Iveco and Renault, this generation of Master shared cab components—including doors—with the second-generation Iveco Daily. This collaboration enabled annual production volumes with up to 120,000 shared parts manufactured across facilities in Italy, Spain, and France.

Available powertrains included various diesel engines: Renault S-Type (S9U, S8W/S9W), G-Type (G9T), Nissan YD, Sofim 8140 (S8U, SxW), and Nissan ZD units ranging from 2.2 to 3.0 liters displacement. Transmission options comprised both 5- or 6-speed manual gearboxes and a 6-speed semi-automatic variant.

A significant facelift at the end of 2003 refreshed elements such as headlights, taillights, side mirrors, and dashboard design while aligning front-end styling closer to that of the smaller Trafic model. This update replaced the previous 2.8-liter engine with a Nissan-derived 3.0-liter ZD3 unit in certain markets. In 2007, versions bearing Renault badging received a redesigned grille.

The adaptable Master continued to be favored across diverse commercial applications including ambulance conversions.

Renault Mascott

Renault Trucks introduced the Mascott, a robust 3.0 L diesel-powered heavy-duty variant of the Master featuring rear-wheel drive, also known as Master Propulsion in France and several other regions, and Master Pro in the Netherlands. In Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia, it continued to be marketed under the Master name; in Belgium as Master LDT; in Poland as Master Maxi; and in Spain, France, Italy, and Réunion as Master Propulsion.

Manufactured between 1999 and 2013, the Mascott occupied a niche within the European lineup between the standard Master and the larger Renault Midlum. It was available with two engine configurations: one paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and another equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

Third generation (2010–2024)

The third iteration of the Renault Master launched in mid-2010, continuing its rebadging under Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Nissan NV400 badges. This generation marked the first time that Opel/Vauxhall and Nissan offered both single and dual rear wheel drive options.

All models were powered by the M-type 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, available in three power variants ranging from to . Renault Trucks discontinued the Mascott line, offering the Master III exclusively as a chassis cab model with payload capacities up to 2.5 tonnes.

In the United Kingdom, the Movano was available in multiple height, length, and weight combinations, supporting payloads reaching . In April 2014, Renault applied a front grille redesign to both the Renault Master and Renault Trucks Master Red models; however, this facelift was not extended to the Opel/Vauxhall or Nissan versions. April 2016 saw the introduction of an off-road Master variant equipped with four-wheel drive.

In October 2018, South Korea received imports of the front-engine front-wheel-drive Master L1H1(S) and L2H2(L) panel vans from France. These models featured diesel engines paired with manual transmissions and were priced starting around ₩29 million for shorter versions and ₩31 million for longer body styles. These offerings targeted rivals such as Hyundai Starex and Hyundai H350.

A refreshed version of this generation debuted in September 2019 for the 2020 model year. By mid-2021, Opel/Vauxhall discontinued their Movano following their alliance with Groupe PSA (now Stellantis), replacing it with a new Movano based on the Fiat Ducato platform. Nissan reinstated the Interstar nameplate in 2022.

In spring 2022, short wheelbase variants of the Renault Master III, Renault Trucks Master III Red, and Nissan Interstar II were phased out; additionally, low-roof closed-body models ceased production by summer.

Key Master (3rd generation) dimensions

rowspan=4 colspan=4 Template:Diagonal split header 2	L1		L2	L3 (RWD)	L3 (FWD)	L4
Exterior	5,075 mm (199.8 in)	5,575 mm (219.5 in)	6,225 mm (245.1 in)		6,875 mm (270.7 in)
WB	3,182 mm (125.3 in)	3,682 mm (145.0 in)		4,332 mm (170.6 in)
Interior	2,583 mm (101.7 in)	3,083 mm (121.4 in)	3,733 mm (147.0 in)		4,383 mm (172.6 in)

Notes

Master Z.E. and E-Tech

Introduced in 2018, the Master Z.E. is a fully electric van equipped with a 33 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 57 kW "R75" motor, the same unit used in the Renault Zoe and Kangoo Z.E. This configuration delivers a WLTP-certified driving range of 120 km and generates a peak torque of 225 Nm. In early 2022, the battery capacity was upgraded to 52 kWh, which extended the WLTP range to 190 km. This enhanced version is marketed as the Master E-Tech in the United Kingdom and is scheduled to launch in Australia in 2024.

Charging options include 7.4 kW AC support, while the newer 52 kWh variant also incorporates DC fast charging capability capped at 22 kW.

It is important to note that these electric models are exclusive to Renault and are not available in the Opel/Vauxhall or Nissan versions.

Master Van H2-Tech

At the 2022 Paris Motor Show, HYVIA presented the production-ready Master Van H2-Tech, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered van designed to provide an extended driving range and promote zero-emission commercial transport solutions.

Fourth generation (XDD; 2024)

The fourth generation of the Master was officially revealed on November 21, 2023, during the Solutrans Motor Show held in Lyon. This new iteration offers a variety of powertrain options including internal combustion engines, electric propulsion, and hydrogen fuel cells, underscoring Renault's dedication to multiple sustainable energy technologies.

On September 16, 2023, this generation earned the International Van of the Year award for 2025, marking Renault’s fifth time receiving this distinguished industry honor.

In February 2024, a new Nissan Interstar model based on this platform was introduced, broadening commercial vehicle offerings within Renault’s alliance network.

Sales

Year	Brazil
2003	1,308
2004	2,400
2005	2,577
2006	2,767
2007	3,685
2008	4,122
2009	3,827
2010	5,723
2011	7,396
2012	8,577
2013	10,005
2014	12,225
2015	8,373
2016	6,399
2017	6,185
2018	7,184
2019	8,479
2020	5,498
2021	9,678
2022	10,012
2023	10,608
2024	11,169

The above figures illustrate the Renault Master's consistent sales performance within the Brazilian market spanning over twenty years.