The first Renault car appeared in 1898, eight years after the advent of the first motor car in Europe. This appearance was down to one man, Louis Renault, a pioneer who chose innovation and competition to get himself noticed at a time when a large number of entrepreneurs were going down the same avenue. During the Belle Epoque, Renault made an increasing number of technical discoveries, dared to launch new products such as lorries and buses and aircraft and boat engines. Its renown grew fast, firstly thanks to the reputation of its cars, recognised as the French specialist in luxury goods, and secondly its reputation as the manufacturer of the taxis seen driving up and down the roads of the biggest cities in the world. Step by step Louis Renault built an industrial production plant made up of factories purchased one after the other in Boulogne, an area to the west of Paris. The First World War provided him with the opportunity to substantially develop his business and to position the company as a major player as far back as then.
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Renault Type A
Though it became the foundation stone for a huge industrial empire, the very first voiturette, designed and built by Louis… -
Renault Type K
Town-to-town races were all the rage at the turn of the century. This Type K won Renault its first major overall victory,… -
Renault Type AX
In 1908 the small economical AX rounded off the already well endowed lower end of the Renault range. Louis Renault produced… -
Renault Type CH
The Renault type CH was built from 1910 to 1912. In the history of Renault, this model’s birth year will always be remembered… -
Renault Taxi Type AG
Renault’s Type AG, the very first Parisian taxi, would go down in history for its role in carrying troops to the Marne during… -
Renault Type DG
This magnificent Victoria with Rotschild coachwork illustrates Renault know-how in prestige vehicles around 1913. Since…
