Concern Renault is a car manufacturer in France, one of the world giants of the industry. The history of the company has 120 years of continuous development. Today, more than 2.5 million units annually roll off Renault’s conveyors. Cars are quite popular, they are bought in 126 countries of the world.
Invention from the garage
Many great things start with a childhood dream, hard work, curiosity and charisma of just one person. Louis Renault was born in 1877. The family in which the boy was born belonged to the class of wealthy bourgeois — the father successfully managed his own business, and his mother received a rich dowry and inheritance. The couple raised three sons. The children were spoiled and did not want to learn. Louis was cool about school, devoting all his time to studying technical innovations, disassembling equipment to individual cogs and reassembling.
The boy’s attitude to technology was noticed by the manufacturer of steam cars Leon Serpolle, he became a mentor of young talent. The future manufacturer of Renault, Louis, opened his own workshop in the parent shed, where he finalized the tricycle presented to him by the famous French automobile brand De Dion-Bouton. To the miracle of technology, not only the fourth wheel was added, but also a completely new invention - a cardan shaft with direct transmission. At its core, it was the first gearbox in the world, far ahead of all existing gear and chain devices.
The invention saw the light of day and became public at a Christmas party, where Louis argued with friends that an advanced vehicle could easily drive up Rue Lelique Street in Montmartre. To overcome the rise of the carriageway in this place of Paris was almost a miracle - the slope was 13 degrees. The inventor was confident in success and made a bet. The triumphal trip brought him not only a won dispute, but also 12 orders for his cars.
How did the plant begin?
A month later, Louis Renault is a manufacturer and holder of an official patent for a gearbox of an original design. The right to manufacture the box was bought by all the automobile factories that existed then; the principle of operation of the driveshaft has remained unchanged since then for cars with rear-wheel drive. Renault Freres was founded on October 1, 1898. The whole family joined the company, the ideological mastermind and the chief engineer at that time turned 21 years old.
The country of origin of the Renault car is France. At the end of the 19th century, it was one of the few where advanced automotive technologies developed, the talents of mechanics and engineers were valued. That time is long gone, the Renault concern remained in his memory. The founders of the plant named the first released Voiturette car (wagon, trolley), which almost thoroughly described the external data of the machine.
The world trend was the production of cars with powerful engines, the brothers relied on low weight and maneuverability, the engine power was only ¾ l. from. They were right - the Renault Voiturette easily defeated heavyweight rivals in the race. The most significant competition was the Paris-Bordeaux race. After winning the large-scale race, the brothers received an order for 350 cars.
Expansion
Innovative light cars were popular, but the market dictated its conditions. Demand for powerful cars did not decrease, and the Renault manufacturer in 1900 made concessions to the consumer by releasing the AG-1 auto model, the body had several options. Later, the model range was replenished with modifications D and E of the basic standard.
The number of orders was constantly growing, the brothers were forced to transfer part of the production. To fulfill all its obligations, Renault entered into an agreement with a Belgian automobile plant, where the production of French-made cars began.
In 1902, the manufacturer Renault to participate in the Paris-Vienna races began to develop its own engine with 4 cylinders, a volume of 3750 cubic meters and a capacity of 30 liters. from. The experience was successful, the new car won the competition.
Brothers often themselves drove their racing cars. So, in the Paris-Madrid race, one of the founders of the enterprise, Marcel Renault, was killed. After the tragic event, Louis announced the end of his sports career, but he could not stay in the shadows for a long time.
A few years later he resumed the construction of racing cars and performances at competitions. By 1904, the automobile manufacturer Renault produced about 1,000 cars a year, the geography of its presence spreads to many European countries, the number of salons where Renault wanted to represent was steadily increasing.
Taxi for war
In 1905, cars already ceased to be luxury; a new service appeared in the city streets - a taxi. The market quickly became popular, the demand increased, Renault was one of the first to start producing taxi cars. The first model was called Renault Taxi La Marne. The test was brought to fame by the First World War - by employing 600 taxis, the army was able to transport 5,000 soldiers to the Marne River in the shortest possible time. In memory of this event, a monument was erected to the car.
Military operations became an incentive for the manufacturer of Renault - the ships saw the light, engines for aircraft, a tank was developed. In 1906, the first city bus was launched from the plant’s shops. The plant’s products were supplied not only to European countries; cars found a place at the Russian court.
The company donated a limousine to the emperor, and the Renault-Bebe model car to the heir. The Russian revolution changed only faces; Renault continued cooperation with Moscow, supplying taxis to the USSR, as well as equipment for assembly lines and technology to the AZLK plant. By 1913, the staff of the Renault company exceeded 5 thousand people, more than 10 thousand cars of various models came off the assembly lines.
The country of manufacture
Renault - whose car? France. we repeat, it was and remains the birthplace of cars of this brand. During this period, the company's factories were equipped with the most advanced equipment; the strategic direction of the enterprise development was to provide ordinary citizens with affordable cars. In 1925, the hood of a 40CV racing car model first graced the company's logo in the form of a diamond. The car became the winner in the competitions held in Monte Carlo, and also received a number of prizes for setting records - profitability, range.
Since 1926, all models of Renault cars began to be produced with brakes mounted on 4 wheels, this has become the standard of quality. For many manufacturers, World War II not only turned into a tragedy, but also became a story of shame. During the war, several Renault plants were completely destroyed by bombing. After the war, the owner of the company, Louis Renault, was accused of ties and cooperation with Nazi Germany. He was arrested and sent to prison, where he died.
New time and new owner
In 1945, all the factories and the company itself came under nationalization, becoming state property. The name slightly changed, the brand received a familiar name for us - Renault, the Renault Brothers company ceased to exist. Three years after the war, large-scale reconstruction was carried out at enterprises. Along with these works, the production of the Juvaquatres continued.
After the modernization of the facilities, the 4CV model was released. Its advantage was hydraulic brakes and shock absorbers. Over the next years, sales of the model amounted to more than 500 thousand cars.
1954 was a jubilee year for the company. Two events were immediately noted - since the moment of nationalization, the millionth car rolled off the assembly line, 2 million were released in the entire history of the factories. In the Old World, everyone knew whose Renault car: the country of manufacture of the car is France. Renault's position in Europe was unbreakable, the concern began to develop the United States market.
The Conquest of America
In 1959, Renault took the sixth position in the global ranking of car manufacturers. In 1965, a hatchback (Renault 16 model) was released, which became legendary in terms of comfort and safety.
Next year, the concern places its production on all continents, this was made possible thanks to cooperation with Peugeot and Volvo.
In the 70s, the Renault company was at the peak of popularity among French manufacturers thanks to the most popular models 5 and 12. During this period, an agreement was signed with the American company American Motors. Thanks to mutual advertising and PR campaigns, American cars gained fans in Europe, and Renault Alliance became the most sought-after car in the United States thanks to James Bond films.
At the turn of the century
In the last decade of the 20th century, the company significantly increases the number of sales and receives several awards. The Renault Clio, released instead of the Renault 5, becomes the car of the year in Europe (1991). Today is the fourth generation of these cars. Also in 1991, the Renault Ligne truck and Renault FR1 bus received the same title. The president of the company, Raymond Levy, is awarded the title “President of the Year”.
In 1996, the company introduced an innovation - the transverse engine Renault. The manufacturer increases the size of machine models. Subcompact cars also continue to be produced. So in 1998, Clio became one of the most popular cars for the urban environment. In 2001, Volvo acquired the name-retaining truck division; Renault heavy trucks are produced today.
In 2002, the merger of two concerns - Nissan and Renault. In 2005, the release of Renault Logan. The manufacturer has created one of the most popular models, the car is affordable for a wide range of consumers, easy to repair and operate, for which he received popular love and recognition.
Renault in Russia
Cooperation with the Russian automotive industry manufacturer Renault resumed in 1970. Ten years later, a quarter of all cars produced in the USSR were built using French technology. In 1993, Renault opened its first representative office in Moscow, creating a joint venture with the government of the capital. The office was called Avtoframos. A year later, a workshop for the production of Renault Megane, Renault 19 and Clio Symbol cars was founded at AZLK.
By 2005, the company completed construction and launched the Renault Logan full-cycle car factory. Russian motorists liked the cars; in 2006, the model was recognized as the best-selling foreign car. In 2008, Renault became the owner of a blocking stake in the Russian AvtoVAZ plant.
The share of Renault in the joint venture Avtoframos was constantly increasing and in November 2012 reached 100%. After the change of ownership, the company was renamed to ZAO Renault Russia. Also in 2012, Renault gained control of a 67.13% stake in AvtoVAZ. The active presence of the carmaker in the Russian market inevitably leads to the question of whose Renault car. The country of origin is France, but in fact, cars are assembled on all continents, including Russia.
Today, the concern is actively developing the Russian market. In addition to Renault Logan, domestic consumers most often acquire the following models:
- Renault Sandero (Renault Sandero). The manufacturer is the company Avtoframos (Moscow). The first car of this model came off the assembly line of the Renault plant in Brazil. It has been produced in Moscow since 2010; since 2011, the model has spread to the CIS countries. They adapted the car for Russia. "Sandero Stepway" is equipped with an engine with 4 cylinders, the capacity is 106 liters. sec., fuel consumption of 4 liters per 100 kilometers.
- Renault Duster ("Renault-Duster") - manufacturer Avtoframos plant in Moscow. This model is one of the most popular crossovers in Russia. In a year, the company produces more than 160 thousand cars on the domestic market.
In 2015, Renault produced a millionth car at a Moscow plant, which indicates the productive development of the enterprise in Russia. The sales growth rate is constantly increasing. Everyone wins - the consumer receives high-quality budget cars, the state - profit in the form of taxes and investments, and the company - income and development. In the immediate objectives of the concern Renault - the release of electric vehicles.