Renault to make electric car in Spain

MADRID, Nov 6 (Reuters) - French auto maker Renault (RENA.PA) said on Friday it would build its new electric car based on the Twizy Z.E. Concept at its Valladolid plant in northern Spain.

Renault chose Valladolid for its know-how and competitiveness in making compact cars, and Spain for its proximity to the electric car's target market of Western Europe.

"With the production of the vehicle based on the Twizy Z.E. Concept, Valladolid will be the first factory in Spain to mass produce an electric vehicle," Jean Pierre Laurent, managing director of Renault in Spain, said in a statement.

Production of the new electric car at the Valladolid plant, which currently makes Renault's Modus and Grand Modus models as well as the New Clio, will begin in 2011.

Renault has decided to mass market a whole range of affordable zero emissions products in 2011, and last month selected Valladolid to produce a thermal engine in 2012 and a fuel-combustion vehicle in 2013. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski, editing by Will Waterman)