118 Facts About Renault

1.

Groupe Renault is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899.

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2.

Renault owns subsidiaries RCI Banque, Renault Retail Group (automotive distribution) and Motrio (automotive parts).

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3.

Renault is known for its role in motor sport, particularly rallying, Formula 1 and Formula E Its early work on mathematical curve modeling for car bodies is important in the history of computer graphics.

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4.

In 1903, Renault began to manufacture its own engines; until then it had purchased them from De Dion-Bouton.

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5.

Renault was the best-selling foreign brand in New York in 1907 and 1908.

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6.

Renault made itself known through succeeding in the first city-to-city races held in Switzerland, producing rapid sales growth.

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7.

Renault fostered its reputation for innovation from very early on.

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8.

In 1911, Renault visited Henry Ford at the Highland Park factory and adopted some of the manufacturing principles from his trip.

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9.

Renault manufactured buses and commercial cargo vehicles in the pre-war years.

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10.

Louis Renault enlarged Renault's scope after 1918, producing agricultural and industrial machinery.

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11.

Renault struggled to compete with the increasingly popular small, affordable "people's cars, " while problems with the United States stock market and the workforce slowed the company's growth.

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12.

Renault had to find a way to distribute its vehicles more efficiently.

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13.

In 1928, Renault introduced an upgraded specification to its "Stella" line.

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14.

In 1931, Renault introduced diesel engines for its commercial vehicles.

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15.

Renault continued developing tanks as part of France's rearming effort, including the D1 and the FT's replacement, the R 35.

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16.

Renault became again the largest car manufacturer, a position it would keep until the 1980s.

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17.

Renault was finally affected by the Great Depression economic crisis in 1936.

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18.

Renault spun off Caudron and its foundry and aircraft engine divisions into related but autonomous operations, keeping its core automotive business.

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19.

Renault resolved to rebuild the factory as quickly as possible, but bombardments continued a year later, on 4 April, this time delivered by the Americans, and on 3 and 15 September 1943.

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20.

Renault appeared before Judge Marcel Martin, on 22 September 1944 and was arrested on 23 September 1944, as were several other French automobile-industry leaders.

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21.

Renault was incarcerated at Fresnes prison where he died on 24 October 1944 under unclear circumstances, while awaiting trial.

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22.

Renault's were the only factories permanently expropriated by the French government.

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23.

In subsequent years, the Renault family tried to have the nationalisation rescinded by French courts and receive compensation.

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24.

Under the leadership of Pierre Lefaucheux, Renault experienced both a commercial resurgence and labor unrest, that was to continue into the 1980s.

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25.

In secrecy during the war, Louis Renault had developed the rear engine 4CV which was launched under Lefacheux in 1946.

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26.

Renault debuted its flagship model, the largely conventional 2-litre 4-cylinder Renault Fregate, shortly thereafter.

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27.

Renault oversaw the prototyping of the Dauphine, enlisting the help of artist Paule Marrot in pioneering the company's textile and color division.

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28.

Renault sold the Renault Caravelle roadster, which was called the Floride outside North America.

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29.

The larger rear-engined Renault 10 followed the success of the R8, and was the last rear-engined Renault.

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30.

The 1960s had been a decade of aggressive growth: a few months earlier, in October 1969, the manufacturer had launched the Renault 12, combining the engineering philosophy of its hatchbacks with the more conservative "three-box" design.

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31.

Renault acquired a controlling stake in Automobiles Alpine in 1973, and over the decades, Renault developed a collaborative partnership with Nash Motors Rambler and its successor American Motors Corporation.

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32.

From 1962 until 1967, Renault assembled complete knock down kits of the Rambler Classic sedans in its factory in Belgium.

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33.

Renault did not have large or luxury cars in its product line and the "Rambler Renault" was positioned as an alternative to the Mercedes-Benz "Fintail" cars.

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34.

Later, Renault continued to make and sell a hybrid of AMC's Rambler American and Rambler Classic called the Renault Torino in Argentina.

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35.

Renault partnered with AMC on projects, such as a rotary concept engine in the late 1960s.

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36.

Renault produced and assembled models including the R8, R10, R12, R16, sporty R15, R17 coupes, R18, and R20.

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37.

When Peugeot acquired Citroen and formed PSA, the group's collaboration with Renault was reduced, although established joint production projects were maintained.

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38.

In 1980, Renault produced 2, 053, 677 cars and LCVs The cars at the time were the Renault 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 30; the LCVs were the 4, 5, and 12 Societe and the Estafette.

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39.

In North America, Renault partnered with American Motors Corporation, lending AMC operating capital and buying a minority 22.

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40.

The first Renault model sold through AMC's dealerships was the R5, renamed Renault Le Car.

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41.

Renault replaced some AMC executives, and Jose J Dedeurwaerder of Renault became President of AMC.

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42.

In 1982, Renault become the second European automaker to build cars in the US, after Volkswagen.

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43.

Renault was replaced by Raymond Levy, who continued Besse's initiatives, slimming the company enough that by the end of 1987, Renault was more or less financially stable.

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44.

However, while Besse was convinced that Renault needed a presence in the North American market and wanted to push forward with restructuring AMC, Levy, facing domestic losses from Renault at home, and losses from AMC in the US, along with the political climate that led to Besse's assassination, decided to sell AMC to Chrysler that same year.

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45.

The Renault 5 entered its second generation in 1984 and continued to sell well.

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46.

In 1990, Renault strengthened its collaboration with Volvo by signing an agreement that allowed both companies to reduce vehicle conception costs and purchasing expenses.

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47.

Renault had access to Volvo's expertise in upper market segments and in return, Volvo exploited Renault's designs for low and medium segments.

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48.

Revitalised Renault launched successful new cars in the early 1990s, accompanied by an improved marketing effort on European markets, including the 5 replacement, the Clio in May 1990.

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49.

In December 1996, General Motors Europe and Renault begun to collaborate in the development of LCVs, starting with the second generation Trafic.

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50.

Renault undertook organisational changes, introducing a lean production system with delegate responsibilities inspired by Japanese systems, reforming work methods, and centralising research and development at its Technocentre to reduce vehicle conception costs while accelerating such conception.

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51.

Renault continued to operate as a stand-alone company, but with the intent to collaborate with its alliance partner to reduce costs.

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52.

In 2000, Renault acquired a controlling stake of the newly formed South Korean Samsung Group's automotive division for £59.

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53.

In Japan, Renault was formerly licensed by Yanase Co, Japan's premier seller of imported cars.

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54.

In February 2010, Renault opened a new production factory near Tangier, Morocco, with an annual output capacity of 170, 000 vehicles.

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55.

Renault expects to eventually increase production at the Tangier plant to 400, 000 vehicles per year.

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56.

In 2013, it formed a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group named as Dongfeng Renault, based on a failed previous venture with the Chinese company Sanjiang.

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57.

In December 2018, Renault announced it would acquire a "significant" stake in JMCG's electric vehicle subsidiary JMEV.

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58.

In December 2012, the Algeria's National Investment Fund, the Societe Nationale de Vehicules Industriels (SNVI), and Renault signed an agreement to establish a factory near the city of Oran, Algeria, with the aim of manufacturing Symbol units from 2014 onwards.

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59.

In September 2013, Renault launched its brand in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, with the aim of becoming one of the top European brands there until 2016.

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60.

Renault believes that all small and some mid-size will no longer be diesels by 2020.

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61.

However, on Friday, 13 January 2017, Renault shares fell as the Paris prosecutor started an investigation into possible exhaust emissions cheating.

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62.

Renault later recalled 15, 000 cars for emission testing and fixing.

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63.

Independent tests carried out by the German car club ADAC proved that, under normal driving conditions, diesel vehicles, including the Renault Espace, exceeded legal European emission limits for nitrogen oxide by more than 10 times.

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64.

Renault denied any foul play, stating compliance with French and European standards.

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65.

In January 2019, following Ghosn's resignation, Renault announced it had appointed Jean-Dominique Senard as chairman and the acting CEO Bollore as CEO.

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66.

In January 2020, Renault announced it had named Italian Luca de Meo as its new CEO, with him taking his post on 1 July.

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67.

In January 2021, as part of a company revamp, Renault said it would divide its automotive division into four business units: Renault, Dacia and Lada, Alpine, and Mobilize.

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68.

Renault said it would suspend operations at the plant amid mounting pressure over its continued presence there since the invasion of Ukraine.

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69.

Unlike most of its Western competitors, Renault has been slow to announce any divestments or scaling back of its operations in Russia, drawing criticism.

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70.

Later that day, Renault said it had "suspended" Renault Russia operations and was "assessing the available options" regarding its AvtoVAZ ownership.

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71.

The agreement provides an option for Renault to buy back its interest in AvtoVAZ, exercisable at certain times during the next 6 years.

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72.

Renault took part in motorsport at the beginning of the 20th century, promoted by Marcel Renault's racing interests and over the years acquired companies with a sporting connection such as Gordini and Alpine.

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73.

Renault has achieved success in both rallying and in Formula One over the past few decades.

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74.

Renault introduced the turbo engine to Formula One when they debuted their first car, the Renault RS01 at Silverstone in 1977.

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75.

Renault took over the Benetton Formula team in 2000 for the 2001 season and renamed it Renault F1 in 2002.

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76.

Renault powered the winning 2010 Red Bull Racing team, and took a similar role with its old team in December 2010, when it sold its final stake to the investment group Genii Capital, the main stakeholder since December 2009, ending Renault's direct role in running a F1 team for the second time.

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77.

Renault bought the Enstone-based team for the 2016 season, rebranding it Renault.

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78.

Marcel Renault won the 1902 Rallye Paris-Vienna, but lost his life while competing in the 1903 Paris-Madrid rally.

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79.

In 1973, Renault took control of Automobiles Alpine, a related company for several years, which was responsible for building successful rally cars such as the A110.

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80.

The focus shifted to Formula One, although Renault achieved several victories including the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally with the Renault 5 Turbo before retirement from the world rally in late 1994.

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81.

Renault cars participate of cross-country races, most prominently the Dakar Rally.

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82.

Renault is administered through a board of directors, an executive committee and a management committee.

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83.

Since 2008, Renault has displayed various all-electric car concepts under the name "Z.

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84.

However, Renault presented a new hybrid car in September 2014, the Eolab, which incorporates various innovations that the company said will be added to production models by 2020.

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85.

In 2014 at the New Delhi Auto Show, Renault announced a new model, the Kwid Concept, which comes with helicopter drone.

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86.

In 2013, Renault became the leader of electric vehicles sales in Europe, thanks to its large range of vehicles.

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87.

The Renault Zoe was Europe's best selling all-electric car in 2015 and 2016.

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88.

In 2008, Renault–Nissan signed a deal to produce electric cars for an initiative in Israel with Better Place, a US company developing new non-petroleum–based transport infrastructure.

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89.

Renault collaborated with Better Place to produce a network of all-electric vehicles and thousands of charging stations in Denmark, planned to be operational by 2011.

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90.

Renault ended the partnership in 2013, following Better Place's bankruptcy, with only 1, 000 vehicle sales in Israel and 240 in Denmark.

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91.

Renault–Nissan signed deals with Ireland's Electricity Supply Board, and in Milton Keynes as part of the UK's Plugged in Places national project.

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92.

Renault–Nissan group is a member of the PHEV Research Center.

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93.

In 2021, Renault launched a new EV and mobility brand called Mobilize and showed a prototype for a small Twizy-style EV called the EZ-1.

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94.

Renault Group invested into a start-up company Verkor, that should develop EV batteries and about in 2026 build a gigafactory in France.

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95.

In 2007 Renault introduced a new line of eco-friendly derivatives marked eco² that were based on production platforms.

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96.

Renault unveiled a prototype, the Next Two, in February 2014.

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97.

The first car with Renault's bodywork was the "Taxi de la Marne" introduced in 1905.

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98.

In 1975, Robert Opron was named chief designer and Renault Styling was divided into Interior, Exterior and Advanced Design groups.

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99.

In 1987, Renault named Patrick le Quement as chief designer and created the Industrial Design Department to replace Renault Styling.

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100.

Renault gave it the same importance as Engineering and Product Planning, participating in product development.

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101.

Renault Technocentre is the main research and development facility.

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102.

Renault Tech is a division of Renault Sport Technologies, headquartered in Les Ulis.

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103.

Renault began intermittent talks with AvtoVAZ in 2005, initially insisting that CKD assemble Logans at its facilities, while VAZ intended to keep its own Lada brand and sought only a new platform and engine.

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104.

Renault Samsung Motors is a marque used almost exclusively in South Korea.

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105.

Renault is responsible for the management of two joint companies, RNPO and RNIS (Renault-Nissan Information Services).

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106.

In 1979, Renault entered into an agreement with American Motors Corporation to sell cars in the US.

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107.

In 2007, Renault-Nissan entered talks with Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto to develop a new ultra-low-cost car along the lines of the Tata Nano.

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108.

Renault's existing partner in India, Mahindra, was not interested in the project.

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109.

On 7 October 2008 a Renault executive said the company was interested in acquiring or partnering with Chrysler.

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110.

On 11 October 2008, the New York Times reported that General Motors, Nissan and Renault had all been in discussions over the past month with Chrysler's owner Cerberus Capital Management about acquiring Chrysler.

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111.

Renault models have won the European Car of the Year award six times in the last forty years:.

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112.

Renault cars have won numerous national-level awards in Spain, Australia, Ireland, the United States, Denmark, and elsewhere.

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113.

Under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Culture, in the 2016 edition of the Corporate Art Awards Renault received by pptArt the award for its Art Collection that inspired the creativity of its car designers.

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114.

The lozenge of Renault means a diamond that expresses the brand's firm desire to project a strong and consistent corporate image.

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115.

The logo received so much positive feedback that Renault officially introduced the new symbol as their logo in March 2021, according to Renault's design director Gilles Vidal, who joined the group in 2020.

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116.

Renault Classic is a department within Renault that seeks to collect, preserve and exhibit notable vehicles from the company's history.

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117.

Renault has sponsored films as an advertising technique since 1899.

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118.

Renault backed some films set in Africa during the 1920s to promote the reliability of its products on tough conditions.

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