Cars are a passion for most people – sometimes, people like a luxury model, provided they can afford it, whereas some people get one just for the efficiency of transportation. Either way, as the world moves – so does the demand for cars. This is much more than just getting across from Point A to Point B, you and I both know that there are tons of ways to get across to a place.
In this article, we will talk about Renault – a car brand which at one point of time was a market leader before losing its lustre slowly but is once again gaining traction. We will delve into the depths about the history, popular models and more.
Renault: Car Company Overview
Renault or also known as Renault Group, is a French multinational automobile manufacturer that was established in 1899 with its headquarters located in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris.
The company produces a range of cars and vans has manufactured trucks, tractors, tanks, buses, aircraft, and aircraft engines. As of now, the Renault marque is part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance wherein the French state and Nissan each own a 15% of the company.
The company is renowned for it’s role in motor sport vehicles, especially for events like rallying, Formula 1 and Formula E. It might interest you to know that Renault was one of the early innovators behind curve modelling for car bodies and this was particularly significant if we were to consider the history of computer graphics.
Renault Manufacturing Country
The French automaking company Renault has it’s manufacturing country and headquarters located in France – Boulogne-Billancourt to be exact. It has other significant manufacturing facilities and operations in other countries as well.
Renault’s History
The Renault corporation was founded on 25th February 1899 by Louis Renault his two brothers Marcel and Fernand.
- During this time, the world was only just waking up to the potential of motorised vehicles and transport and thus Louis along with his brothers transformed their fascination for automobiles into a lucrative business venture.
- There was of course, a massive limitation in that era, but Louis’ innovative and resourceful mindset got only him but also his brothers to create functional cars that set a standard in performance and reliability.
- Within a few years of the official inception, Louis and his brothers began to make a sea of change in terms of motor racing and the first Renault car which was known as the Voiturette 1CV, was sold to his father, after giving the latter a test ride for the first time on 24th December 1898.
- One of the significant turning points in the case of the car company was when Renault introduced mass production techniques in 1905 which was subsequently followed by the implementation of Taylorism back in 1913.
- Naturally, these cutting-edge initiatives set a precedent for the automobile industry, thus transforming the way cars were made and speeding up the industry’s growth overall.
1945 -1992: Slowly making a legacy
The post-war situation was naturally marked with some massive changes at Renault. The company started a production line for the first time in 1929 at the headquarters thus marking the beginning of a new era for automobile manufacturing. By the end of the Second World War, the company was nationalised, and it strived to stay afloat by minimising costs and modernisation of production facilities.
1992 – 2005: Going global and entering new markets
History was made in 1996 when Renault became a private company – this was a major turning point as it had entered into a strategic alliance with Nissan in 1999 and continued to provide innovative solutions with its vehicles.With so many developments, it was only a matter of time before it found success, which was inevitable in Formula 1 racing.
With all the innovations en route, Renault began to find international recognition and paved the way for it’s international expansion.
Present Day
In recent years, the French car company has made some significant steps in the automobile industry. It has maintained innovation with the launch of several successful models such as the Megane and Laguna.
Although this is just a gist of the rich heritage held by the brand, Renault has come a long way from its humble beginnings amidst economic and political turmoil during the War. Today, it still continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the automobile industry.
Renault Group Product Line
Passenger Cars
| Model | Ex-showroom price | On-road price |
| Kwid | Starting from INR 4.70 lakhs | Starting from INR 5.58 lakhs |
| Triber | Starting from INR 6.10 lakhs | Starting from INR 7.07 lakhs |
| Kiger | Starting from INR 6.10 lakhs | Starting from INR 7.08 lakhs |
| Duster | Starting from INR 9.86 lakhs | Starting from INR 9.86 lakhs |
| New Clio | Starting from INR 7 lakhs | Starting from INR 7 lakhs |
| Captur | Starting from INR 9.50 lakhs | Starting from INR 10 lakhs |
| Koleos | Starting from INR 23.45 lakhs | Starting from INR 28.29 lakhs |
Light Commercial Cars
| Model | Ex-showroom price | On-road price |
| Triber Express | Starting from INR 7 lakhs | Starting from INR 7 lakhs |
| Traffic Van | Not available in India | Not available in India |
Sports Car
| Model | Ex-showroom price | On-road price |
| Megane R.S Trophy 300 | Starting from INR 24 lakhs | Starting from INR 25 lakhs |
| Laguna | Expected price INR 15 lakhs | Expected price INR 15 lakhs |
Renault’s Bestselling products as of 2023 (updated list)
| Rank | Model | Production |
| 1 | Sandero/Dracia | 308781 |
| 2 | Clio | 295325 |
| 3 | Duster | 256722 |
| 4 | Captur | 159562 |
| 5 | Trafic | 128041 |
| 6 | Kwid | 112472 |
| 7 | Master | 107005 |
| 8 | Dracia Jogger | 94128 |
| 9 | Megane | 87614 |
Renault’s Safety Rating
The Renault Kiger and Triber which have both been manufactured in India, have received a global NCAP crash test rating with the Kiger being rated at 4 stars for adult occupant protection and 2 stars for child occupant protection. The Triber scored 4 stars for adults and 3 for children but this rating was later modified to 2 stars.
Renault’s Logo and design
The Renault Logo has since aeons, been changing, but the essence remains the same. The logo is signified by a diamond shape, called a ‘losange’ in French, which is actually a schematic representation of a diamond. This has been the brand’s emblem since 1925 with several variations in design and color, but with the same meaning since inception.
Renault Group’s Trending Product
As of now, there are three popular models of Renault that seem to be making headlines every now and then – the Triber, Kiger and the Kwid. In fact, the Kwid has been the most popular and highest-selling model to date.
Recent Updates
The new Triber has gotten a facelift at Renault – and its main tagline is being the cheapest SUV to be sold in India with a retail price starting with INR 6-7 lakhs. In addition to this, the Triber is expected to have tough competition from Nissan’s new model as well.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that Renault has had a legendary history in the automobile industry with visionaries like Louis Renault and his brothers. However, a lot has happened since the inception and in between, the brand was simply not shining like it did before. However, with modern innovations and technological advancements made, the French company is proving once again that it has been a leading brand in the industry and will always remain a force to reckon with.