Renault History

Renault may not be a term that is all that familiar to most North Americans. It currently is not a vehicle that is commonly found on the streets here. Renault is an auto maker from France. They produce all kinds of vehicles from cars to trucks and even tractor equipment. It is actually the 4th largest auto maker in the world but that is because it has an arranged partnership with Nissan, a company that is no stranger to the North American auto market. That is only recently however. The Renault has a wealth of history behind its name, one that dates back to the late 1800s.

The Renault Company was formed in 1899 by several men including Louis Renault and his two brothers Fernand and Marcel. The Renault boys had gained experience by working with their father in textiles. They had designed models before attempting to launch their very own car manufacturing company. The very first car that they sold as Renault was purchased by a friend of their father’s.

It did not take long for the Renault boys to realize that they could gain a lot of attention by getting involved with local race events. They began to race their cars in various cities. This helped their company immensely as it got their name out into the public. They started to see a significant jump in success and sales. It was just 1903 when Marcel was sadly killed during one of these race events. The Renault Company remained involved in the race activities though Louis Renault never raced again after Marcel’s death.

The beginning of World War II brought about many changes for all auto makers of the time. Car production was halted and many factories were forced to manufacture vehicles for the Nazis. Louis Renault died during this time. He was found murdered, his neck broken. Surprisingly, the Renault car did make a comeback. It went through many changes until at last production was putting out cars that could effectively compete with other small, efficient cars of the time like the Volkswagen Beetle.

Throughout the years Renault was affiliated with many different auto makers as it struggled to maintain a level of success. There were both ups and downs for the company, many of which were determined by the economy at the time. It was in 1996 that the company became privatized. It resulted in allowing them more freedom to manufacture and distribute as well as the ability to open up new factories in places like Brazil.

It was 1999 when Renault and Nissan signed a deal that would team them up together. It is known as the first alliance of its kind for the Japanese auto maker. There has been some speculation in recent years about a possible venture with the Chrysler Corporation but nothing has yet been confirmed. The Renault is a vehicle with a vast history. It is outstanding to see how far this car brand has come in the world while maintaining a stronghold in the automotive industry.