Renault History

Renault (Renault, Regie nationale des usines Renault) is French state automobile company, the biggest in the country. It produces passenger and sport cars and trucks. Its head-quarters are located in Bologna-Billancourt (a small town near Paris).

The history of this company began after Louis Renault constructed his first automobile in 1898, a light voiturette (French “voiturette” = wagon, cart) making as small as 0.75 horsepower. The next model, known as Model A, equipped with De Dion engine making 1.75 horsepower, a very successful one constructed on the basis of a pipe frame, so the elder brothers of Louis joined him and together they formed a new company “Renault Brothers” (“Renault Freres”). In 1899 they managed to assemble and sell 15 A Models. Louis designed a special gearbox where the running torque was delivered to the rear wheels not via chains, but via cardan joint axle. This gear apparatus left unchanged till nowadays for rear-drive cars. The brothers were fond of automobile racing, so sport and racing cars played an important role in their early business.

Since 1900 the company specialized in production of big powerful cars. These were AG1 model with an elegant and convenient bodies Capuchin, Double-Phaeton, Landau and Limousines, rare at these times.

In 1906 on a car show in Berlin the company presented its first bus. Renault Brothers were one of the first to release taxi automobiles with Landau body. These cars, nicknamed Brownings because of their coloring and shape, became famous during World War I after 600 Paris Renault-taxis were mobilized and transported 5000 soldiers to Marne River in shortest terms. Afterwards the taxis were named after the battle, Marne taxis. There even was a monument erected to praise this automobile. For satisfying the needs of French Army the company also provided other machinery, vessels, aircraft engines (the first airplane engine was constructed in 1908). Louis Renault also constructed tanks efficient enough for these times.

During the pre-War years Renault Brothers cooperated actively with Russia. The emperor ordered Renault a Limousine-Landau on Renault chassis for himself and a light easy to drive and maintain Renault Bebe automobile for the heir. It’s also well-known that these Renaults confiscated from “the exploiters” were used for transporting V. I. Lenin. Renault taxi-cabs were also purchased for new socialistic Moscow; the equipment and technologies of Renault were used for establishing KIM automobile plant, later known as AZLK.

In 1930ies original open-body Renault buses appeared; brilliant sport achievements constantly contributed to the firm’s success. After the death of his brother Louis Renault never took the steering wheel himself, but automobiles produced by Renault always adorned numerous car races.

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