How Renault Evolved
Renault was born in February 1877. Youngest of five he had a very priviledged childhood and developed an interest in mechanics very early on in life. It was in a garden shed the young Louis set up his first workshop.
By 20 years old he converted his tricycle into a four wheeled car and added his new invention, the first gear box.
His two brothers Fernand and Marcel set up the Renault Brothers company in 1899.
It was through racing that the renault brothers became famous with Louis and Marcel doing the racing. They won races one of the most important of which was the Paris to Vienna race won by Marcel in 1902.
Their sales in cars accelerated rapidly and they were sold at 3,000 francs each which is equal to ten years average salary at that time. By 1902 the first saloon car and later that year the first Renault engine with four cylinders and 24 horse power. Not very long after this the first turbo engine was patented.
However in 1903 Marcel was tragically killed in a race from Paris to Madrid. He was only 31 years old. This was heartbreaking for Louis and it made him give up racing for good.
By 1919 the motor car in France was regarded as a big luxury and was heavily taxed. Louis reorganised his business and started to manufacture everything that had an engine from cars, vans, light commercial vehicles, buses, trucks etc. He managed to aquire his own foundries and ironworks which enabled him to reduce his independence on other companies although he did buy components when they were cheaper than he could manufacture himself.
In 1998 Renault celebrated its centenary by opening two major sites.
The Renault Technocentre near Paris was to be the driving force accommodating Renaults 6500 engineering and design personnel.
The Scenic bodywork assembly plant based in Brazil is a large complex including a powertrain plant and also a light vehicle assembly plant.
I wonder if Louis Renault could ever have imagined right at the start when he converted his bicycle that his empire would grow into such a large industry. Nowadays it is often more viable to lease vans and indeed in years to come Renault van leasing companies would be spread worldwide.
