Is Renault a Joint Venture Car?
3 Answers
Renault is a joint venture car, and the types of vehicles it produces include racing cars, compact cars, mid-size cars, recreational vehicles, and large cars. Taking the 2019 Renault City K-ZE as an example, it belongs to the small SUV category, with body dimensions of 3735mm in length, 1579mm in width, and 1484mm in height, a wheelbase of 2423mm, and a curb weight of 921kg. The 2019 Renault City K-ZE features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. It is equipped with a permanent magnet electric motor, delivering a maximum power of 33kW and a maximum torque of 125Nm, paired with a single-speed fixed gear ratio transmission.
Renault cars are quite popular in my hometown in Europe, being a wholly French-owned brand that develops and manufactures its own vehicles, with no joint ventures involved. After moving to China, I noticed that Renault partnered with Dongfeng Group to establish the Dongfeng Renault project, a joint venture that produced SUVs like the Koleos, aiming to boost sales. However, in 2020, they parted ways, and now Renault vehicles in China are mostly imported, not joint-venture models. Renault has technical alliances with brands like Nissan but doesn’t engage in traditional joint ventures. In summary, it depends on where you buy: in Europe, it’s wholly owned; in China, it’s imported. Before choosing a car, check the after-sales network to avoid costly part replacements for imports, which are pricier than joint-venture cars but offer more stylish designs.
As a long-time car enthusiast who has studied Renault for years, it's an independent French brand that maintains full control over its production lines from start to finish, without any joint venture involvement. However, it struggled in the Chinese market and had to partner with local automaker Dongfeng to establish Dongfeng Renault, a full-fledged joint venture that produced several models from 2013 to 2020. Later, the partnership fell through, and Renault withdrew its investment. Currently, all new Renault vehicles in China are imported; the situation might be similar in other developing countries, but in mainstream markets, Renault operates solely. I recommend keeping an eye on brand changes. Buying a Renault means considering import taxes and maintenance costs, which are slightly higher than joint venture vehicles, but the handling is more stable.
