Renault Trucks
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial vehicles |
| Predecessor | Renault Véhicules Industriels (1978–2002) |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Headquarters | Saint-Priest, near Lyon , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Trucks, military vehicles, buses (historically) |
| Owner | Volvo Group (since 2001) |
| Parent | Volvo Group |
| Website | www |
Renault Trucks is a commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Saint-Priest, near Lyon, France. Initially part of the Renault group, it has operated as a subsidiary of Volvo since 2001.
Between 1978 and 2002, the company was identified as Renault Véhicules Industriels' (Renault Industrial Vehicles), officially abbreviated to Renault V. I. starting in 1992. Up until 2002, Renault Véhicules Industriels was also involved in bus production.
History
The production of dedicated commercial trucks by Renault started in 1906. In 1956, Renault stopped manufacturing trucks and buses under its own brand and instead established the subsidiary Saviem in partnership with manufacturers Somua and Latil. From 1957 onward, vehicles were marketed under the Saviem brand.
In line with French industrial strategy, Renault took over the truck and bus manufacturer Berliet from Citroën in 1975. Three years later, in 1978, Berliet and Saviem merged to create Renault Véhicules Industriels. By 1980, the legacy brand names were phased out in favor of Renault branding.
In 1971, Saviem became part of the Euro Truck Development Group, known as the Club of Four, collaborating with Volvo, DAF, and Magirus-Deutz to develop medium-duty trucks. Trucks resulting from this collaboration were manufactured by Saviem and later Renault until 2001, with models marketed in North America under the names Mack Mid-Liner or Manager.
In 1978, the PSA Group acquired Chrysler's European commercial vehicle operations, which included UK and Spanish units branded as Dodge. PSA sold these assets to RVI in 1983. The UK division originated from the Rootes Group's commercial vehicle brands Karrier and Commer. RVI continued producing some models at its Dunstable facility under the Dodge name combined with Renault badges. This UK branch was called Renault Truck Industries until 1992 before being renamed Renault V.I.
In Spain, Dodge trucks initially developed by Barreiros Diesel were rebranded as Renault vehicles and eventually replaced by models designed in France.
Renault Véhicules Industriels acquired a 42% shareholding in American truck manufacturer Mack Trucks in 1987, becoming a fully owned subsidiary by 1990.
The company expanded its presence in bus manufacturing through investments in French bodybuilder Heuliez Bus (37.5% acquired in 1991) and Czech bus maker Karosa, gaining majority control by 1996 and increasing ownership to 96% by 2000. In 1997, RVI formed a partnership with Finnish truck maker Sisu, followed by a 2002 agreement with Chinese firm Dongfeng Motor to produce engines.
Renault Trucks participated in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, securing the championship title in 2010 with the Renault Trucks-MKR Technology team using Premium models equipped with DXi13 engines.
Since 2004, Nordex S.A. in Uruguay has been manufacturing licensed Renault Trucks models such as the Midlum series.
The Volvo Group invested around €2 billion to develop a new lineup of Renault Trucks vehicles (C, D, K, T), which were introduced throughout 2013 to succeed earlier models.
Changes of ownership
Following the privatisation restructuring of Renault in 1996, its heavy vehicle division was divested. In 1999, Renault's bus operations merged with those of Karosa and Fiat-Iveco to create the joint venture subsidiary Irisbus. By 2003, Irisbus became fully owned by Iveco, leading to the replacement of Renault branding on its products.
In April 2000, an agreement was reached for Renault to acquire Volvo's truck manufacturing business; concurrently Volvo relinquished its 15% stake in Renault while Renault took a 20% shareholding in Volvo. This transaction, which included Mack Trucks but excluded Renault's stake in Irisbus, was finalized on January 2, 2001. Subsequently, Renault Véhicules Industriels was renamed Renault Trucks in 2002. Renault reduced its shareholding in Volvo to 5% by October 2010 and divested its remaining shares by December 2012.
Military vehicles
The Renault Trucks Defense division is located in Versailles, France and operates as a wholly owned branch of Renault Trucks. Building upon its acquisition of Berliet in 1975, it claims a fleet exceeding 30,000 vehicles worldwide. Although a primary supplier for the French Army, a $214 million contract was awarded to Italian rival Iveco in 2010. In 2016, Volvo announced intentions to divest Renault Trucks Defense as part of selling its Government Sales division.
Renault Trucks Defense manufactures specialized vehicles tailored for defense and security sectors, including models such as the Sherpa, armored personnel carrier VAB, AMC multirole carrier, and various versions within the Kerax range.
In May 2006, Renault Trucks acquired defense vehicle manufacturer ACMAT, which has maintained its distinct brand identity. On May 24, 2018, Renault Trucks Defense underwent rebranding and adopted the name Arquus.
Light commercial vehicles
- Renault Trucks Master (a rebadged model originally manufactured by Renault, retailed through Renault Trucks outlets under a specific collaboration)
- Renault Trucks Trafic (rebadged Renault vehicle introduced in 2022, available at Renault Trucks dealerships)
Distribution trucks
Construction vehicles
Long-haul trucks
Military utility vehicles
Military transport trucks
Upcoming models
- Renault Trucks Oxygen
In 2023, Sparrow Recovery unveiled the UK's inaugural 120-tonne Renault Truck C520 recovery vehicle.
Discontinued truck models
- Dodge 50
- Dodge 100
- Dodge 300
- Renault Access (a joint venture with Dennis Eagle, which succeeded the Renault Puncher in 2010)
- Renault C
- Renault B/Messenger
- Renault J
- Renault M/Renault S (Midliner)
- Renault G (Manager/Maxter)
- Renault Kerax
- Renault R (Major)
- Renault Magnum
- Renault Mascott
- Renault Maxity (manufactured in Spain as a variant of the Nissan Cabstar)
- Renault Midlum (marketed in Australia as Mack Midlum)
- Renault Puncher 280 HP / 20 or 26 tonnes
- Renault Premium (sold in Australia under the Mack Premium name and in New Zealand as Mack Quantum)
- Renault Premium Lander
- Renault Premium Route
Discontinued bus models
- Renault PR100, introduced in 1972 and previously marketed under Berliet; certain Australian PR100.2 models bore both Renault and Mack branding
- Renault PR112, a 1994 update of the PR100 featuring a front design by coachbuilder Safra
- Renault PR180, articulated variant of the PR100 launched in 1981, later refreshed to become the PR112
- Renault R312, succeeded by the Renault Agora in 1996 and later rebranded as Irisbus Agora in 2002; sold in Australia as the Renault PR100.3
- Renault Recreo school bus, produced by Karosa
- Renault SC10, initially launched as Saviem SC10 in 1965; redesigned to SC10R in 1981 with notable styling revisions; included variants such as SC10U and SC10RA featuring open rear platforms
- Renault Tracer, replaced by the Renault Arés in 2000 and renamed Irisbus Arés in 2001
Discontinued coach models
- Renault E7, originally introduced as Saviem E7 in 1969
- Renault PR14, launched under the Berliet Crusair nameplate in 1974
- Renault PR80S, derived from the PR100 series
- Renault S-Series coaches (including models like the Renault S45), sold under the brands Renault, Saviem, and Saviem-Chausson between 1977 and 1993
- Renault FR1, briefly available in the US market as Mack FR1; updated and renamed as the Renault Iliade in 1997
Discontinued trolleybus and tram models
- Renault ER100, launched under Berliet branding in 1977; later replaced by the Irisbus Cristalis
- Renault PER180, a diesel-trolleybus hybrid built on the PR180 chassis
- Renault Civis, rebranded as Irisbus Civis following the sale of Renault Bus
Concept vehicles
- Renault Radiance (2004)
- Renault Magnum Vega