Since its 1999 alliance with Nissan, Renault has become the fourth largest car manufacturer in the world.
Ever since Renault’s inception the company has strived to provide its customers with a unique and innovative style of motoring. It was this drive to produce new and unique styles that led to the world’s first hatchback (outside of the subcompact category), the Renault 16. The Renault 16 incorporated many features that were unprecedented in a family car and this helped the model win the award of European Car of the Year in its first full year of production (1966). This paved the way for Renault as they have since picked up this prestigious award on five more occasions - in 1982, 1991, 1997, 2003 and 2006 for the Renault 9, Clio, Mégane Scenic, Mégane and Clio respectively.
Renault has also prided itself on developing impressive safety technologies. As a company, its quest for automotive safety was first recognised in the mid 1990s when the Renault Mégane became the first car to achieve the highest possible EuroNCAP safety record. Today, Renault (out of all car manufacturers) has the most models with the maximum 5 star rating in EuroNCAP crash tests.
Renault’s innovative approach has also been applied to their Formula 1 campaign. Renault has been intermittently involved in the sport since the 1970s both as a constructor and engine supplier. In fact it was Renault who first introduced the turbo engine to the sport however it is with their naturally aspirated engines that Renault have won the most accolades winning the constructors world championship title 6 times with Benetton and Williams.