A common stunt for carmakers to pull is to up their warranty coverage, as it provides buyers with peace of mind and has a track record of attracting sales. It worked for Chrysler, it worked for Hyundai, it worked for Mitsubishi, so it’ll work with other automakers, right? Well, it depends on what the warranty is covering, because one automaker is offering a warranty of sorts on its customers’ marriages. Renault UK is offering a money-back guarantee should you buy a Scenic E-Tech crossover and then get divorced. I beg your pardon?
Since many of us readers live in places that haven’t had Renault dealers in decades, here’s the 411 on the Scenic E-Tech. It’s an electric two-row crossover that’s a little bit smaller than a Volkswagen ID.4, and it features either a 60 kWh battery pack or an 87 kWh battery pack. Drive goes exclusively to the front wheels through a single motor, and the range on the optimistic WLTP cycle ends up landing at 260 miles for the 60 kWh model and 390 miles for the 87 kWh pack.
It’s a fairly handsome family car with quite inoffensive exterior styling, although the dashboard does look a bit low-poly. Still, it ought to get you, your better half, and your brood where you want to go, provided it’s within range or adequate charging is available. However, Renault thinks it’s such a brilliant family car that the firm’s British branch is offering Relationship Breakdown Cover, and it’s one of the more insane automotive PR stunts I’ve seen in recent memory. Seriously, in Renault’s words:
So confident are the makers of the Renault Scenic E-Tech 100% Electric that it is the perfect family car that they have declared it will bring an end to in-car friction – and promised owners their money back if they split up after buying one
According to Renault, this warranty of sorts is entirely legitimate, but it does come with a fairly restrictive set of clauses. For a start, it’s only available on Scenic E-Tech electric crossovers purchased in full between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of 2024. No luck if you’re on a finance or leasing scheme. Secondly, you must produce either a Decree Nisi and a Decree Absolute if divorcing or a court-stamped dissolution Conditional Order if dissolving a civil partnership, and either must be stamped at least one month after taking delivery of a Scenic E-Tech but no later than Dec. 31, 2024. In addition, there’s a standard wear-and-tear clause, and as Renault puts it, “This offer can only be redeemed for one vehicle per Divorce or dissolution of Civil Partnership.”
Guys, what the fuck? I totally get marketing an electric crossover as a family car, but this is just so hilariously out of pocket that it’s amazing it flies at all. Did Joe Isuzu think of this? Like, what’s going on here? Relationship Breakdown Cover is like a freaking comedy sketch come to life, something so insane it’s almost unbelievable that an automaker would go with it.
At the end of the day, I don’t even know what to draw from this. If you and your partner live in Britain, have the funds to pay for a new car in full, and they don’t know that you know that they’re sleeping with the au pair, maybe buy a Renault Scenic E-Tech, I guess?
(Photo credits: Renault)
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I mean, what’s to stop couples from ‘divorcing’ on paper, get the refund, and then re-marrying?
Seems like a useless/stupid gimmick to me… UNLESS you get to keep the car as part of the deal.
Do they let you keep the car after the refund?
I guess that’s for the court to decide…
That is the most French car warranty ever.
The only thing that could be more French is offering a rebate when your mistress also purchases a Renault.
I brake with thee, I brake with thee, I brake with thee. Where’s my money?
They’re offering it so that journos will write about it. Sure, they may have to pay out for a few cars, but that’s a small price to pay for the “earned” media exposure.
Edited to add reference to journalists.
That is weirdly specific.
Do you hsve to move to England?
A fairly big question here seems to be whether you get to keep the car too?
Yeah, I don’t think it’s clear but the fact that there’s a wear and tear clause implies that you have to give back the vehicle. It’s not just a refund, it’s a return.
I was thinking the same thing. If you get to keep the car, then it’s something that can legitimately help divorced people. But if you have to give the car back, then it’s a useless/stupid gimmick.
A new and creative publicity stunt! Fun!
Is this then a case of first come first served?
I sort of thought that the Scenic was an electric mpv type car until I read this. Just another flipping crossover thing,fuck.
It used to be.
All the cars are the same CUV/SUV now, they might as well go full Nascar and share the actual chassis
Imagine the potential for a universal platform for sort of a global car with one skateboard and battery. It could be state owned/licensed and built locally.
Somehow I smell a story line here for DT and (name withheld). /s