RENAULT

At the turn of the century, many technicians started building cars. A small workshop was enough for them, blacksmith's stove, lathe. Only a few pioneers in the automotive industry have managed to achieve their intentions on a large scale. One of them was Louis Renault.

W 1898 r. he built his first car with a de Dion engine in a small workshop at the end of the garden. A year later, the cottage in the Renault family's backyard became the Renault brothers' car manufacturer. Symmetrically intertwined L letters became the trademark of the company (Louis), M (Marcel), F (Fernand) and R. (Renault).

From 1900 r. a series of victories in various races and car rallies begins. First it was the Paris - Toulouse - Paris race, then the Paris - Berlin - Paris - Vienna races, until the tragic Paris-Madrid race in 1903. After Marcel Renault's fatal accident in this competition, all responsibility for the company passed to Louis Renault.

The pioneering activity of the company continued - the first closed limousine appeared, first taxi and first bus from 21 seated places.

After the death of his brother Fernando, Louis founded the village of 1909 r. a joint-stock company Societe Anonyme des Usines Renault.

Increasing production required more careful planning and systematic search for new solutions. Renault has expanded its design departments and plants, hired new employees, so that in the early 1920s it was one of the largest industrial plants in Europe. W 1925 r. a stylized diamond-shaped factory mark appeared on the hood of his cars, which initially served as a housing for the sound signal.

Renault also produced vans, tractors, marine engines, aviation and industrial. W 1944 r., a year after Louis Renault's death, the company was nationalized. Since then, it has been known as Regie Nationale des Usines Renault. W 1947 r. 27 000 type cars 4 The CV came off the assembly lines, to become famous in such competitions soon, like the Monte Carlo rally, 24-hour of Le Mans, One thousand miles, Alpine Rally and others. W 1954 r. The 500,000th Renault was produced 4 CV.

CEO Pierre Lefaucheux, engineer and doctor of law, dynamically developed the company further, today being a famous industrial giant. Garden House, where the history of the Renault company began, still exists today opposite the Renault headquarters building in Billancourt near Paris.