Renault

 

Renault Véhicules Industriels (Renault Industrial Vehicles) was formed in 1978, but its heritage goes back to the end of the 19th century, after which Renault incorporated successively the brands: Laffly, Rochet-Schneider, Isobloc, Camiva, Latil, Citroën Poids Lourds, Somua, LRS, Saviem and, finally, Berliet. The final acquisition act occurred in 2001, when RVI became part of the Volvo Group.

 

The Renault brand began in 1899 as the Société Renault Frères company, founded by Louis Renault and his brothers Marcel and Fernand. Louis had already designed and built several cars, including one with shaft drive to a live axle that he patented, before teaming up with his brothers, who had worked for their father’s textile firm,

In 1903, Renault began to manufacture its own engines instead of using De Dion-Bouton engines. The first volume sale came in 1905 when Société des Automobiles de Place bought Renault AG1 cars to establish a fleet of taxis.

 

Taxi de la Marne – Renault Type AG 1913 – El Monty

 

These vehicles were later used by the French military to transport troops in the early months of World War I, helping protect Paris from the invading German Army. The Renault taxi earned its nickname: Taxi de la Marne. 

By 1907, a significant percentage of London and Paris taxis were Renaults. Renault was also the best-selling foreign brand in New York in 1907 and 1908. In 1908 the company produced 3575 units, becoming France’s largest car manufacturer.

Renault also exported engines to American automobile manufacturers, including GJG, which used a Renault 26hp and 40hp four-cylinder engines.

 

FT FT17 – Paul Hermans

 

Renault had concentrated on cars and light commercial derivatives, but World War I saw the company producing aircraft engines, gun carriages and the first modern tank. The company’s military designs earned Louis the Legion of Honour, for his company’s contributions.

Other French brands that were destined to become part of a later RVI were also involved in WWI production: Berliet producing trucks and the Renault tank; and Latil’s 4×4 truck development, based on the front-wheel drive truck it had pioneered in 1898.

 

French Army Latil TAR 4×4

 

The post-WWI years were hard, because of a vehicle glut and so, in 1925, Renault diversified and was the first brand to offer a road tractor fitted with a servo brake. Renault also introduced bus models, including the TN4 and TN6 models that were specifically designed for city transport work.

However, by mid-1930s, all French manufacturers were hit by the Great Depression and while Renault could offset losses through its tractor, railroad and weapons businesses, Citroën filed for bankruptcy and was subsequently acquired by Michelin.

Renault was finally forced to face the economic crisis in 1936 and spun off its foundry and aircraft engine divisions. 

 

1937 Renault TN4H – Charles01

 

Between 1936 and 1938, a series of labour disputes, strikes, and worker unrest spread throughout the French automobile industry. The disputes were eventually quashed by Renault in a particularly intransigent way and more than 2000 people lost their jobs.

After the French capitulation in 1940, Louis Renault was forced to produce trucks for the Nazis. In March 1942, the RAF sent low-level bombers to the Paris plant and the surrounding area, causing extensive damage and heavy civilian casualties. The factory was rebuilt, but bombardment by the US Army Airforce followed in September 1943.

After the Liberation of Paris, in September 1944, the gates at Renault’s plant reopened, but in an atmosphere of mistrust between capitalist collaboration and communist resistance.

The provisional government accused Louis Renault of collaborating with the Germans and he was arrested on 23 September 1944, as were several other French automobile-industry leaders. Renault’s harsh handling of the 1936–1938 strikes had left him without political allies and no one came to his aid.

Louis Renault died in prison one month later, under highly suspicious circumstances.

 

 

Post-WWII

 

The French Government’s Pons Plan was for a government devised and directed rationalisation of the French vehicle industry that consisted of 22 manufacturers of passenger cars and 28 manufacturers of trucks. This was considered too many. The plan, applied in a way that some viewed as authoritarian and arbitrary, defined complementary roles for seven of the larger manufacturers: Berliet, Citroën, Ford SAF, Panhard, Peugeot, Renault and Simca.

Citroën was considered powerful and large enough to operate autonomously, but Peugeot was required to link up with Hotchkiss, Latil and Saurer for the production of commercial vehicles. In the Lyon region, Berliet was required to form an association with Isobloc and Rochet-Schneider. 

However, Renault was given punitive treatment, when, on 16th January 1945, Louis Renault’s company was formally nationalised as Régie Nationale des Usines Renault. In subsequent years, the Renault family tried to have the nationalisation rescinded by French courts and receive compensation. In 1945 and again in 1961, the Courts responded that they had no authority to review the government’s actions.

 

Renault R4211 – Jean Capolini

 

Post-War Renaults included new R215D and R2400 buses.

In 1955, Renault combined its truck and bus brands, along with Latil and Somua into the new Saviem brand that subsequently introduced the SC10 bus.

In 1971, Saviem became a member of the Euro Truck Development Group (The Club of Four) and we’ve covered that topic in our Truck Features section.

 

Saviem HM15 – CJP24

 

As a result of French industrial policy, in 1975, state-owned Renault also acquired the truck and bus manufacturer Berliet from Citroën, which at that time was part of Michelin. 

 

Renault R 340 (Berliet cab) – Francis Cany

 

In 1978, Berliet and Saviem merged to create the sole French truck manufacturer, Renault Véhicules Industriels, the commercial vehicle branch of the Renault group. The old brand names were retained for two more years while the model lineups were gradually incorporated, until in 1980 they were replaced by the name Renault.

 

 

Renault Véhicules Industriels acquired Dodge Europe in 1983 and the American brand Mack in 1990. 

 

Renault Magnum

 

In 1991, RVI purchased a 37.5 percent shareholding in French bodybuilder Heuliez Bus. In 1994, RVI purchased a 34 percent stake in the Czech bus manufacturer Karosa, increasing its ownership to a majority 51 percent in 1996 and 96 percent in 2000.

In 1997 RVI  entered into a cooperation agreement with the Finnish truck producer Sisu.

In 2001, RVI became a part of the Volvo Group, and the following year adopted the trade name of Renault Trucks.