Renault is one of the oldest automobile brands that has left an indelible mark on the automobile industry. The journey of Renault started at the end of the 19th century is continued to date. During this time, Renault has rolled off a number of vehicles equipped with advanced and performance-oriented features. Renault, the brand that we know today started from motor racing and became a leading automobile brand.
Let’s elaborate on Renault’s history and unwrap its remarkable journey.
Renault Cars History Timeline
The term “Renault” is a combination of two words “ragin” means counsel and “wald” means the rule. That said, the brand has stuck to its core values to date, in fact, Renault’s logo also represents its vision.
Here is the complete history of the brand from Renault’s origin to its latest models.
Birth of Renault (1898 to 1918)
The automobile brand Renault was founded by Louis Renault and his brothers in the year 1898. Soon after its inception, the brand gained rapid popularity due to its motor racing wins and become a leading French car brand. After becoming a successful motor racing company, Renault started mass vehicle production in 1905.
Apart from vehicles, Renault also manufactured stretchers, ambulances, shells, tanks and trucks during WWI.
First Production Line (1919 to 1945)
After the war, Renault started its first production line in 1929 at Billancourt. Considering the global economic situation, Renault focused on launching affordable cars. However, it was not prolonged, as the WWII outbreak affected the sales. In fact, in 1945, Renault was nationalised and became Régie Nationale des Usines Renault (RNUR).
International Expansion (1946 to 1975)
Renault continued its journey towards modernisation as a national corporation. The company modernised its production plant and bought new sites for establishing factories. During this era, Renault started to expand in other countries like the USA.
The brand launched 4CV, a small car that was an instant hit in the market. After that, two affordable models Renault 4 and 5 were also launched. After the successful experiment of affordable cars, Renault rolled off an upmarket model named Renault 16. Alongside successful models, the company also made headlines in rally racing.
Modernisation of Cars (1976 to 1992)
Renault encashed the popularity of its models and continued to release luxury and affordable cars. In the luxury car segment, Renault released the 25 and Espace which were popular at that time. The Renault 9 released in 1981 was voted for the European Car of the Year. Some other popular models of this era were R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R16, R17 and R15.
Renault partnered with a number of other brands to come up with the best technology for their vehicles. The prime example of this collaboration was the manufacturing of a V6 engine that was later used in Renault 30. The brand also purchased commercial vehicle manufacturer Berliet in 1975 and established Renault Véhicules Industriels. The Renault Véhicules Industriels specifically deals with heavy and commercial vehicles. Later, Renault purchased 44.6% stakes in an American truck manufacturing company named Mack Trucks to strengthen its position in the commercial vehicle market.
Despite being affected by the energy crises, the brand penetrated into motorsports and F1 races.
Privatisation and Merger (1993 to 2005)
Prior to the start of the new millennial, Renault was considering a merger with Volvo. However, the idea was dropped due to multiple reasons. After that, Renault was privatised in 1996 which was the biggest turning point in Renault’s history. Soon after privatisation, Renault purchased stakes in Nissan and other brands.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance aids Renault to develop more advanced vehicles equipped with modern car safety features. Renault launched the Megane and Laguna during this era. Moving forward, Renault acquired Samsung Motors and Dacia and continued expansion in different regions of the world.
In the early 2000s, Renault revamped its strategies, working policies and infrastructure. They established a single research centre that was responsible for brainstorming ideas for new cars. Also, Renault Véhicules Industriels was sold to Volvo and Renault focused on manufacturing ultra-modern vehicles.
Renault-Nissan & Daimler Alliance (2005 to 2010)
Renault continued its journey focused on adopting technologically advanced features. Renault was some of the earliest brands to introduce keyless entry and keyless ignition systems. The Renault-Nissan Alliance collaborates with Daimler and forms another alliance. After the alliance, Renault and Daimler will provide different auto parts to each other.
Following the success, Renault established a new production facility in Tangier, Morocco. The plant has a total production capacity of 170,000 vehicles. Cars like Dacia Lodgy, Dokker and Sandero are manufactured in this facility.
Aside from this merger, Daimler has contributed to a number of other mergers. That said, here are some of the Daimler-AG-owned brands still operational today.
Renault in the Previous Decade (2010 to 2020)
In the previous decade, Renault has expanded widely in different parts of the world. In 2013, the brand founded a joint venture with Chinese brands Dongfeng, and the DRAC (Dongfeng Renault Automotive Company) and established a factory in Wuhan, China.
Similar to other popular brands, Renault is focused on launching electric cars. In fact, Renault has won Formula E races three years consecutively. Formulae E is the world’s first all-electric single-seater car race.
After the successful mergers and alliance, the Japanese brand Mitsubishi joined Renault and formed a new alliance of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. Recently, Renault has released some of the most iconic and performance-oriented electric cars in the market.
This was the complete history of Renault, a century-old automobile brand. Since its inception, Renault had faced multiple issues, but its vehicles were always up to the mark. That said, Renault sticks to its core values to date and provides the best value for money to its users. If you are also interested in availing of these features, browse through these used Renault cars for sale in the UAE and purchase your very own Renault.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s auto blog for more information on Renault’s new models.
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