(CNN) -- Renault has suspended three executives suspected of "misconduct" following an investigation, an official with the French automaker said.
"Renault decided to take action because these are serious acts concerning people with extremely strategic positions at the Group," Christian Husson, general counsel and compliance officer of Renault, said in a statement Thursday.
"Their acts justify this suspension, the first aim of which is to immediately protect the strategic, intellectual and technological assets of our company".
A French government official said the case involves "industrial espionage".
The company said it is examining all legal options, but said they will "inevitably result in legal action".
The executives were not named by the company, which cited labor law, and Renault did not say when they were suspended. CNN
