French carmaker Renault suspended three executives for suspected industrial espionage after an investigation lasting several months, a source close to the company told Reuters on Wednesday.
A Renault spokesman confirmed it suspended three executives on Monday after an 'ethical alert' was transmitted to the group's compliance committee in August. But she declined to give further details about the suspensions.
The source close to the company said: 'It involves people who were caught red-handed for industrial espionage. It's a matter that has lasted several months already.' The source said the three people involved were senior executives, one of whom was on the company's management committee.
'Renault is a victim in this story. The group is a bit worried about its electric vehicle (EV) programme - it hopes that its leadership in this technology won't be threatened,' the source said.
Renault, with its Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co Ltd, is a fierce proponent of EV technology, with the companies jointly investing 4 billion euros (S$6.8 billion) in their flagship EV programmes.
A second source close to Renault said an 'ethical alert' could mean a fellow employee warning the compliance committee that an individual's behaviour threatened the company.
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