Renault España
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Madrid , Spain |
Area served | Spain |
| Parent | Renault |
Renault España Sociedad Anónima (RESA) ranks among the principal manufacturing branches of Renault. Headquartered in Spain, it manages production sites located in Valladolid, Palencia, and Sevilla, with the majority of its administrative functions centralized in Madrid. Vehicle sales within Spain are conducted through its subsidiary, RECSA. The company's roots trace back to FASA, a domestic automaker that began assembling Renault automobiles in 1953.
SAEAR
In 1908, Louis Renault established the Sociedad Anónima Española de Automóviles Renault (SAEAR) in Spain, marking Renault’s second subsidiary outside France after the United Kingdom. SAEAR experienced steady growth until the 1930s but subsequently encountered financial losses due to protectionist policies, diminished demand, and price declines, challenges further intensified by the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Despite these difficulties and considerations to cease operations, Louis Renault preserved the subsidiary by diversifying its activities into manufacturing tractors, buses, trucks, military supplies, fuel distribution, and car rental services.
The import business of SAEAR rebounded in 1949 following the success of the 4CV model.
FASA, FASA-Renault and RESA
In 1950, a group of industrialists led by Manuel Jiménez Alfaro and Nicolás Franco requested authorization from Renault’s RNUR to assemble vehicles locally in Spain. Valladolid was selected as the site for the new factory. Initial resistance from both Renault’s president and the Spanish government—due to intentions to establish a state-controlled automotive monopoly through SEAT—was overcome by 1951.
Production commenced in 1953 under the name FASA with the 4CV model; meanwhile, SAEAR managed vehicle sales. By 1955, manufacturing capabilities expanded to produce complete cars domestically, introducing models such as the Renault Dauphine and 4. In 1965, FASA merged with Renault España Sociedad Anónima (RESA), creating FASA-Renault, with Renault holding a 49.9% stake. That same year saw the establishment of FACSA (specializing in bodywork) and FAMESA (focused on mechanical components), alongside acquiring a Sevilla plant dedicated to gearbox production. Renault became the principal shareholder in 1976 and inaugurated a factory in Palencia by 1978. In 1994, commercial and manufacturing operations separated when Renault formed a dedicated entity for sales management.
By 2000, FASA-Renault transitioned into a fully owned Renault subsidiary under the name .
In 2015, Spain’s National Commission on Markets and Competition imposed a fine exceeding €18 million on Renault España Comercial for involvement in a cartel that controlled approximately 91% of the market between 2006 and 2013 by exchanging sales and repair data in an anti-competitive manner.
In 2016, Renault sold 169,243 vehicles under the Renault and Dacia brands within Spain. The following year marked production of its 16 millionth vehicle on Spanish soil.
Administration
Renault España’s registered office is situated in Valladolid; however, most executive functions for Renault’s operations in Spain are conducted from its headquarters in Madrid.
Cars
The car assembly facility in Valladolid occupies an area of 31.4 hectares and was producing the Captur and Twizy models as of 2014.
Engines
The Valladolid engine manufacturing plant covers 14.5 hectares and produced 1.57 million engines during 2016.
Palencia
Spanning an area of 30.4 hectares, the Palencia factory has been manufacturing the compact crossover SUV Renault Austral since July 2022. From September 2023, it expanded production to include the 7-seat SUV Renault Espace, and starting January 2024, it will begin producing the SUV-coupe Renault Rafale.
Sevilla
The Sevilla plant is dedicated to the manufacturing of gearboxes, having produced 1.07 million units in the year 2016.