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Renault Véhicules Industriels

From Alfawiki
Renault Trucks
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryCommercial vehicles manufacturing
PredecessorRenault Industrial Vehicles (Renault V.I.)
Founded1906
Headquarters
Saint-Priest, near Lyon
,
France
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsCommercial trucks, military vehicles
OwnerVolvo Group (since 2001)
ParentVolvo Group
Websitewww.renault-trucks.com

Renault Trucks is a commercial truck manufacturer based in Saint-Priest, near Lyon, France. Initially a division of Renault, it has been under the ownership of Volvo since 2001.

Between 1978 and 2002, the company operated under the name Renault Véhicules Industriels (Renault Industrial Vehicles), officially shortened to Renault V. I. starting in 1992. Up until 2002, its production also included buses.

History

The origins of Renault’s commercial truck production date back to 1906.[1] In 1956, Renault stopped manufacturing trucks and buses under its own label and instead established the subsidiary Saviem in partnership with manufacturers Somua and Latil. While lighter commercial vehicles remained branded as Renault, trucks and buses were sold under the Saviem name beginning in 1957.

In line with French industrial strategy, state-owned Renault acquired the truck and bus maker Berliet from Citroën in 1975,[2] and merged Berliet with Saviem three years later to create Renault Véhicules Industriels. By 1980, the legacy brand names were phased out in favor of the Renault brand.

In 1971, Saviem became part of the Euro Truck Development Group, known as the Club of Four, collaborating with Volvo, DAF, and Magirus-Deutz (later integrated into Iveco) to develop medium-duty trucks. Production of these vehicles began in 1975 under Saviem and continued under Renault until 2001. These trucks were also marketed in North America as the Mack Mid-Liner or Manager.

In 1978, PSA Group took over Chrysler’s European operations,[3] which included commercial vehicle units in the UK and Spain branded as Dodge. Due to limited interest in commercial vehicles, PSA sold these assets to RVI in 1983.[4] The UK operations originated from the commercial vehicle division of the Rootes Group, known for brands such as Karrier and Commer. RVI continued manufacturing in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, preserving the Dodge brand alongside Renault badges. This UK division was called Renault Truck Industries until 1992 before it adopted the Renault V.I. designation.

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% share of American manufacturer Mack Trucks in 1987 and obtained full ownership by 1990.[5]

RVI increased its involvement in bus manufacturing by acquiring stakes in French bodybuilder Heuliez Bus (37.5% in 1991) and Czech company Karosa, eventually gaining majority control by 1996 and nearly complete ownership by 2000.[6] In 1997, Renault V.I. formed an alliance with Finnish truck maker Sisu, followed by an engine supply agreement with Chinese firm Dongfeng Motor in 2002.

Renault Trucks participated actively in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, securing the championship title in 2010 with Renault Premium models equipped with DXi13 engines.

Since 2004, Nordex S.A.’s factory in Uruguay has been assembling Renault Trucks models such as the Midlum range.[7]

The Volvo Group invested around €2 billion to create a new series of Renault Trucks—the C, D, K, and T ranges—launched throughout 2013 to succeed earlier models.[8]

Ownership transitions

After Renault underwent privatisation in 1996, it divested its heavy vehicle division. In 1999, the bus and coach operations of Renault and Karosa combined with Fiat-Iveco's activities to create the jointly owned enterprise Irisbus. By 2003, Irisbus had become a wholly owned subsidiary of Iveco, replacing the Renault brand on its vehicles.

In April 2000, Renault reached an agreement to acquire Volvo's truck manufacturing unit; as part of the arrangement, Volvo gave up its 15% stake in Renault, while Renault obtained a 20% shareholding in Volvo. This transaction, finalized in January 2001, included Mack Trucks but did not involve Renault's shares in Irisbus. In 2002, Renault Véhicules Industriels was rebranded as Renault Trucks. Renault trimmed its Volvo stake to 5% in October 2010 and divested its remaining shares by December 2012.

Defense vehicles

Renault Trucks Defense, headquartered in Versailles, France, operates as a fully owned subsidiary of Renault Trucks. Building upon the acquisition of Berliet in 1975, it boasts over 30,000 vehicles deployed worldwide. Although it remains a primary supplier to the French Army, its leading role was contested in 2010 when the government awarded a $214 million contract to Italian rival Iveco. In 2016, Volvo announced plans to sell off Renault Trucks Defense as part of divesting its Government Sales division.

This unit manufactures specialized military and security vehicles such as the Sherpa, VAB armoured personnel carrier, AMC multirole carrier, and Kerax series. In May 2006, Renault Trucks expanded by acquiring ACMAT, which has maintained its distinct brand identity.

On 24 May 2018, Renault Trucks Defense underwent rebranding and adopted the name Arquus.

Delivery segment

Distribution segment

Construction segment

Long-haul segment

Military SUVs

Military trucks

Upcoming models

  • Renault Trucks Oxygen

In 2023, Sparrow Recovery introduced the first 120-tonne Renault Truck C520 recovery vehicle in the United Kingdom.

Discontinued truck models

Obsolete bus models

  • Renault PR100, introduced in 1972 originally under the Berliet name; certain Australian PR100.2 units carried both Renault and Mack emblems
  • Renault PR112, a 1994 enhancement of the PR100 featuring a front design by coachbuilder Safra
  • Renault PR180, an articulated version of the PR100 unveiled in 1981, which later developed into the PR112 model
  • Renault R312, succeeded by the Renault Agora in 1996 and later rebranded as Irisbus Agora in 2002; marketed in Australia as Renault PR100.3
  • Renault Recreo, a school bus manufactured by Karosa
  • Renault SC10, launched as Saviem SC10 in 1965, refreshed to SC10R in 1981 with updated styling; subsequent variants included the SC10U and SC10RA featuring open rear platforms
  • Renault Tracer, replaced by the Renault Arés in 2000 and then Irisbus Arés in 2001

Former coach models

  • Renault E7, initially introduced as Saviem E7 in 1969
  • Renault PR14, originally known as Berliet Crusair from 1974
  • Renault PR80S, developed from the PR100 platform
  • Renault S-Series coaches (such as the Renault S45), sold under the Renault, Saviem, and Saviem-Chausson brands between 1977 and 1993
  • Renault FR1, briefly available in the US market as Mack FR1; underwent facelift and was renamed Renault Iliade in 1997

Former trolleybus and tram models

  • Renault ER100, launched as Berliet ER100 in 1977; later replaced by the Irisbus Cristalis
  • Renault PER180, a diesel-trolleybus hybrid model based on the PR180 chassis
  • Renault Civis, which was rebranded as Irisbus Civis following the sale of Renault Bus

Concept vehicles

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TT
  2. ↑ Carroll, John; Davies, Peter James (2007). p. 59.
  3. ↑ Flory (2011)
  4. ↑ Kuipers (1983)
  5. ↑ Mack Shares Shifted at Renault
  6. ↑ Pavlínek (2008)
  7. ↑ Nordex: "sigue siendo caro producir en Uruguay"
  8. ↑ New Renault Trucks range press release
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