Renault is a French international car manufacturer founded in 1899. Present in 160 countries, Renault has built its reputation with an impressive portfolio of iconic models including the Clio, Megane and Laguna. In addition to being one of the world’s leading car manufacturers, Renault is also active in other areas such as construction equipment, powertrains and even financial services. In 2017, the company achieved sales of more than 107 billion euros and employs more than 200,000 people worldwide.
Renault’s global success can be traced to their core values - innovation, quality and reliability – which have been at the heart of everything they do for over 100 years – from developing new technologies to improving customer satisfaction around the world. These values are the company culture that has helped Renault to improve and grow continuously.
The history of the Renault brand dates back to the beginnings of the automotive industry, when Louis Renault (the company’s founder) built his first car in 1899. His interest in cars arose when he saw the Panhard-Levassor car on the road, and Louis soon started a spare parts company for other early vehicles. In 1901, he constructed his first Type 1 model, which resulted in orders from other customers who wanted to mount luxury coach bodies on their chassis.
In 1902, Renault developed its first midsize Type 10 car, which marked the beginning of Renault’s many years of collaboration with taxi drivers. This car was later used by Parisian taxi drivers until 1927.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Renault is experiencing tremendous growth and is capable of developing a full range of models. These included the 4CV, which was incredibly light weight and helped create a new market segment for smaller cars known as “voiturette”. It also created the Dauphine model, which was advertised as a “car for everyone” due to its low price.
The 1950s and 1960s are an era of expansion and development for Renault, with Renault producing its first diesel engine in 1954 and establishing a partnership with Volvo in 1963 that continues to this day. In the 1980s, Renault started a new chapter with a range of high-quality models, including the Espace, which was so popular it became a movie star too!
Today, Renault produces a range of cars for every market, from the inexpensive Twingo to the luxurious Megane coupe and everything in between. The company also enriched its offer with electric cars as well as luxury models such as the Latitude and Talisman Grandtour.
Reanult’s sporting traditions are also represented by owning both a Formula 1 team, engine manufacturing, and the world-renowned football club Olympique Lyonnais.
Renault’s commitment to quality is evident in the “Real Life Quality” program, where Renault subjects its vehicles to extensive safety and reliability tests prior to its market launch. Striving for even more improvement.
