Intro: Started by three brothers ’ Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault ’ they built their first prototype car in 1898, but by 1900 had sold over 200 cars. The build rate was almost as diverse as the range of small and enormous cars produced by the company over the next forty-five years. However, it was all-change following the end of WW2, when Louis Renault was accused of colluding with the Nazis. The company was taken away from him and nationalised. Instead of becoming smaller and more efficient, the company actually grew to be so huge that it forged links with Chrysler in North America, Volvo in Sweden, Daf in Holland and even Peugeot in France. In fact, it’s V6 petrol engines found homes in various other products and the situation exists today, with the Renault V6 being used in Peugeot’s 607 model. The company has always enjoyed a fruitful range of activities in motor racing and rallying, which it uses as a means to promote product and brand image. Most recently, Renault forged a strategic partnership with Nissan and has rescued the company from the edge of disaster.
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