Renault's Use of Zoe Name for EV Criticized

PARIS — Gallic passions are inflamed, as usual, but this time over the use of the girl's name Zoe for a Renault EV concept. A petition is circulating online asking Renault not to give its car a human moniker. Apparently such names as Renault 5 were more acceptable to some members of the public.

"Because our daughters have a beautiful first name, which should not be associated with that of a car, [we] join together to weigh in against a multinational that will destroy the pretty name of our children," intones the language of the petition. The petition creator, Sébastien Mortreux — who presumably has a daughter named Zoe — calls it "scandalous" to use common human first names for a product.

Whether this is a real objection on the part of the public or a media-made tempest in a tasse à café is an open question. But at least one citizen has joined up with M. Mortreux — a commenter named Jean-Luc, who said, "I'll fight alongside you, because, well, I admit it would [annoy] me if one day there were a Renault Jean-Luc."

Renault has said the electrically powered Zoe is set for a market launch in 2012. The feminine name makes sense for one reason, at least: The car was co-developed with skin-care company Biotherm and has aromatherapy technology onboard.

Inside Line says: Actually, naming a Renault Jean-Luc is not such a bad idea. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent