Renault Agriculture Explained

Renault Agriculture S.A.S.
Type:Subsidiary
Successor:Claas Tractor S.A.S.
Auto Châssis International SNC
Industry:Agricultural machinery
Foundation:11 November 1918[1]
Founder:Louis Renault
Defunct:2008
Location City:Le Mans
Location Country:France
Parent:Renault

Renault Agriculture S.A.S. (in French pronounced as /ʁəno aɡʁikyltyʁ(ə)/) was the agricultural machinery division of the French car manufacturer Renault established in 1918 from its armored military vehicles division. While in operation, Renault Agriculture had various partnerships with major manufacturers and focussed production on tractors. The company was sold between 2003 and 2008 to German rival Claas. Renault Agriculture was dissolved in 2008 and its facilities became part of Claas' tractor division. Claas' tractor division and Renault's Auto Châssis International are Renault Agriculture successors.

History

After the end of World War I, the Renault company used its experience in armored tanks to devise agricultural vehicles.[2] The Renault's Department 14 (responsible for the FT tank) developed the first tractor of the company,[3] the Type GP, which was powered by an engine similar to that of the FT (a four-cylinder) and had tracks.[1] [4] The most distinguishable differences of the new tractor with the FT were the front-engine design and the reduced weight.[1] The tractors were assembled in Renault's Billancourt factory since 11 November 1918 on the same production lines that the tanks[1] and tested at Louis Renault's farm in Herqueville.[3] [5] The Type HO introduced in 1921 replaced the tracks by more conventional wheels.[3] [5] [6] In 1926, Renault introduced the Type PE which was extensively revised compared to its predecessors, incorporating a new engine with reduced consumes and a vertical radiator.[7] In 1931, with the PE1, the radiator was moved from the middle position used in the previous models to the front[7] and, in 1933, the model became the first France-produced rubber-wheeled tractor.[8] The company also started to develop versions for specific markets, as vineyards.[7] With the aim of reducing the fuel costs, it introduced its first diesel-engined model, the Type VI, in 1932.[3] By 1938, Renault was producing about 40 tractors per month and was the largest French manufacturer.[9]

In 1920, Renault founded the Le Mans engineering centre.[10] Shortly after, plans to move the agricultural machinery production to the new site were revealed.[3] However, the new factory was inaugurated in 1940[11] and the production was stopped because of World War II.[12] Following the war and nationalisation, the Le Mans plant resumed production.[12] [13] The location was divided into a foundry section, a mechanical parts section[12] (supplying the factories of Flins and Billancourt),[14] a painting section and a tractor manufacturing section.[12] At the time, Le Mans was the third largest Renault's operation in France after Billancourt and Cléon.[14] The following years saw the arrival of the D, N, E and Super model series.[15] In 1956, Renault Agriculture standardised the orange colour for its models.[16] In 1950, Renault was the largest tractor manufacturer within France, producing 8,549 units, the 58% of the country's total production.[9] In 1961, Renault introduced the 385 model, with a 12-gear transmission.[17] Apart from its own engines, Renault used MWM[9] and Perkins[18] units. In the 1960s, it produced the One-Sixty Diesel for Allis-Chalmers.[18] In 1968, the company introduced its first four-wheel drive model.[17] In 1972, Renault partnered with Carraro and sold some models of that company with the Renault badge.[15] [19] During the 1970s and 1980s, it also sold models from Mitsubishi.[20] At the 1981 SIMA exhibition Renault Agriculture unveiled the TX range, with comfort elements designed in collaboration with the Renault's car division.[15] [21] The last Renault tractors had ancient gods' names.[15] [16] From late 1993 to 1998, Renault Agriculture and John Deere had a partnership agreement by which the former received John Deere engines manufactured at the Saran factory and in return it supplied John Deere with tractors marketed as the 3000 series.[22] [23] In 1994, Renault Agriculture and Massey Ferguson formed a strategic partnership, as part of which they set up an equally owned joint venture called Groupement International de Mécanique Agricole (GIMA) at a facility located next to Massey's Beauvais factory with the aim of manufacturing transaxles and related components.[23] [24] [25] In 1995, Renault Agriculture agreed to market products from the British agricultural machinery manufacturer JCB through its dealership network in France.[26] In 1997, the company took a 16.6% stake of Rovigo-based Agritalia, a manufacturer of orchard tractors for various clients.[27] In 2000, it purchased a stake in the Indian manufacturer International Tractors (the owner of the Sonalika marque), forming a Sonalika-Renault joint venture.[28] In 2003, as part of a plan to shed non-core assets,[29] Renault sold a 51% majority stake in Renault Agriculture's tractor manufacturing plant to Claas. In 2006, Claas increased its ownership to 80% and in 2008 took full control and renamed it Claas Tractor.[30] By 2005, the Renault marque was phased out and all the tractor models produced at Le Mans were badged as Claas.[31]

Renault Agriculture's successors

Claas Tractor

Claas Tractor S.A.S. is a subsidiary of the Claas group and its main tractor manufacturing operation since 2003. Most of the company's models are manufactured within the facility.[32]

ACI Renault

Auto Châssis International SNC (Le Mans Renault Factory)
Area:69 hectares
Address:Auto Châssis International, 15 avenue Pierre Piffault, 72086 Le Mans, France

In 1999, Renault created the subsidiary Auto Châssis International SNC to manage the foundry and parts area of Le Mans. ACI has worldwide operations and supplies the Renault-Nissan Alliance.[33] Production is organised in three departments. The site also has an engineering centre.[10]

Notes and References

  1. 15 May 1919 . Bradley . W. F. . French tractor design shows lack of uniformity . 40 . 20 . Automotive Industries . 1047 . New York . Class Journal Co. . 5276931 . 0005-1527.
  2. 30 April 1919 . Renault. Les tracteurs agricoles Renault . Renault. The agricultural tractors of Renault . fr . 3 . 47 . Automobilia . Paris . 32 . 1149-2333.
  3. Web site: 1918–1944 . Amicale du Tracteur Renault . 16 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140618190824/http://www.atr-agri.com/renault_histo1_gb.asp . 18 June 2014 . live.
  4. Book: Williams, Michael . Farm tractors in color . 1974 . . 0-02-629300-5 . 31 . New York . registration .
  5. Book: Gibert, Bernard . Tracteurs Renault. L'album photos de 1917 à 1950 . Renault tractors. Photo album 1917–1950 . fr . 2013 . Campagne et Compagnie/France Agricole Editions . 979-10-90213-21-0 . Introduction . 9–10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314161825/http://excerpts.numilog.com/books/9791090213210.pdf . 14 March 2016 . live.
  6. 30 June 1921 . Bradley . W. F. . Renault now producing wheel type tractor . 44 . 26 . Automotive Industries . 1417 . New York . Class Journal Co. . 5276931 . 0005-1527.
  7. Book: Carroll . John . Davies . Peter James . Complete Book Tractors and Trucks . 2007 . Hermes House . 978-1-84309-689-4 . 232.
  8. Book: K, D . Tractor . 2015 . Penguin . 978-1-4654-4460-8 . European Expansion . 58 . https://books.google.com/books?id=2T78BwAAQBAJ&q=Renault+PE&pg=PA58.
  9. L'industrie du tracteur agricole en France . 1959 . Bienfait . Jean . The agricultural tractor industry in France . fr . 34 . 3 . Revue de géographie de Lyon . 193–216 . Géocarrefour . 1960-601X . 10.3406/geoca.1959.2349 . https://www.webcitation.org/6RavDC5Vo?url=http://www.persee.fr/articleAsPDF/geoca_0035-113x_1959_num_34_3_2349/article_geoca_0035-113x_1959_num_34_3_2349.pdf . 5 August 2014 . live.
  10. Web site: Le Mans plant . Renault . 10 June 2014 .
  11. L'influence de l'usine Renault du Mans sur la vie rurale du département de la Sarthe . 1961 . Dufour . Jeanne . The influence of Renault's Le Mans plant on rural life in the Sarthe department . fr . 32 . Norois . 32 . 452 . Presses universitaires de Rennes . 0029-182X . 10.3406/noroi.1961.1361 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160106/http://www.persee.fr/articleAsPDF/noroi_0029-182x_1961_num_32_1_1361/article_noroi_0029-182x_1961_num_32_1_1361.pdf . 24 September 2015 . live.
  12. Book: Rosier, Michel . Vie politique et sociale de la Sarthe sous la IVe République . 2012 . Editions L'Harmattan . 978-2-296-96848-6 . 454.
  13. Book: Marloie, Marcel . L'internationalisation de l'agriculture française, Volume 2, Part 1 . The internationalisation of French agriculture, Volume 2, Part 1 . fr . 1984 . Editions de l'Atelier . 978-2-7082-2394-3. 42 .
  14. Book: Sabel, Charles F. . Work and Politics: The Division of Labor in Industry . limited . The division of labor at Renault . 1982 . . 0-521-31909-9. 72.
  15. Web site: Un rassemblement national de tracteurs Renault au Compa . A national gathering of Renault tractors at COMPA . fr . Plein Champ . 25 June 2015 . 12 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307183205/http://pleinchamp.com/machinisme/actualites-machinisme/un-rassemblement-national-de-tracteurs-renault-au-compa . 7 March 2016 . live.
  16. Web site: Renault Agriculture . PlaneteRenault.com . 16 June 2014.
  17. Book: Renaud, Jean . Un siècle de tracteurs agricoles: De la vapeur à l'électronique . A century of farm tractors: From steam to electronics . fr . 2003 . France Agricole Editions . 978-2-85557-088-4. 182 .
  18. Book: Peterson . Chester . Beemer . Rod . American Farm Tractors: Of The 1960s . 2004 . Voyageur Press . 0-7603-1936-7. 85.
  19. 1976 . 1 . Multinational Business . Multinational Business . 93 . New York . Economist Intelligence Unit.
  20. 1984 . 38 . Agricultural Machinery Journal . 90 . Agricultural Press . Partnerships . 0002-1539.
  21. Book: Gouet, Jacques . Encyclopédie du Tracteur Renault: Depuis 1971 . Renault Tractor Encyclopedia: Since 1971 . fr . 2003 . Editions Techniques pour l'Automobile et l'Industrie . 978-2-7268-9359-3.
  22. Book: MacMillan, Don . The Big Book of John Deere Tractors . 1999 . The Worlds Leader 1991–1999 . Voyageur Press . 978-0-89658-740-3 . 229.
  23. Chronique fusions – Restructurations des entreprises françaises en 1994: quelques nouvelles orientations . 1996 . Paturel . Robert . Review of mergers. Restructuring of French companies in 1994: some new directions . fr . 78 . Revue d'économie industrielle . 78 . 107 . Editions Techniques et Economiques . 1773-0198 . 10.3406/rei.1996.1648.
  24. Web site: AGCO ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE FOR PURCHASING AND PRODUCTION BETWEEN ITS MASSEY FERGUSON SUBSIDIARY AND RENAULT . 26 July 1994 . . 7 August 2014 . .
  25. Web site: Le Gima inaugure une nouvelle ligne d'assemblage de transmissions . Gima inaugurated a new assembly line for transmissions . fr . 24 November 2013 . largus.fr . L'Argus . 7 August 2014 .
  26. Web site: Machinisme agricole : JCB passe par Renault Agriculture . Agricultural machinery: JCB through Renault Agriculture . fr . usinenouvelle.com . . 23 November 1995 . 8 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808140811/http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/machinisme-agricole-jcb-passe-par-renault-agriculture.N77211 . 8 August 2014 . live.
  27. Web site: Renault Agriculture passe à l'offensive . Renault Agriculture goes on the offensive . fr . usinenouvelle.com . L'Usiney nouvelle . 29 October 1998 . 8 August 2014 .
  28. Web site: Renault ties up with International Tractors . Mukherjee, Rupali . expressindia.indianexpress.com . . 20 July 2000 . 20 June 2014.
  29. Web site: Agriculture deal marks end of Renault sell-offs . de Saint-Seine, Sylviane . autonews.com . . 24 March 2003 . 7 August 2014.
  30. Web site: Renault's Le Mans tractor plant falls under 100% Claas control . Fone, Nick . fwi.co.uk . . 1 July 2008 . 20 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014440/http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/01/07/2008/111018/renaults-le-mans-tractor-plant-falls-under-100-claas.htm . 3 December 2013 . live.
  31. Web site: Renault agriculture recentre son usine du Mans sur l'assemblage . Renault Agriculture refocus its Le Mans plant on assembly . fr . usinenouvelle.com . L'Usine nouvelle . 26 November 2004 . 20 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808133049/http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/renault-agriculture-recentre-son-usine-du-mans-sur-l-assemblage.N9520 . 8 August 2014 . live.
  32. Web site: France. Le Mans . Claas . 17 June 2014.
  33. Web site: Renault-Nissan alliance challenged chassis supplier . Graham, Alex . autonews.com . Automotive News . 8 September 2003 . 16 June 2014.

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