Following the news that the boards of PSA Group and Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) have signed off on plans to combine operations and create a leading global group; David Leggett, Automotive Editor at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:
Jean-Dominique Senard, chief executive officer of the Michelin Group, became chairman of the Board of Directors of Renault effective 24 January 2019. According to the company, Senard’s acceptance comes with “the full backing of all participants in Michelin’s governance system”. He will continue to serve as Michelin Group CEO until his term expires in May 2019.
Bridgestone has been named the exclusive supplier for the new Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy, and will supply custom-tuned versions of its Potenza S001 and Potenza S007 as original equipment fitments.
Groupe Renault has selected Hankook Tire as recipient of its Corporate Social Responsibility award for this year. The tyre maker was one of 12 awardees at this year’s Groupe Renault Supplier Award ceremony to be acknowledged in five sectors – Best Service, Design, Innovation, Purchasing sustainability, and Quality.
The 2018 Renault Mégane R.S. is available from dealerships as of this month, and Bridgestone is supplying original equipment tyres for cars delivered with 19-inch rims. The Mégane R.S. wears the Bridgestone Potenza S001 in size 245/35 R19 93Y.
Bridgestone Potenza S001 in size 245/33 R19 93Y.
Giti Tire has secured a second original equipment (OE) homologation fitment with Groupe Renault, and its first SUV placement for the Giti brand in Europe. The GitiPremium PX1 SUV, in size 215/65 R16 98H, is fitted to the new Dacia Duster, available in every major European market. The manufacturer states that the tyre’s key attributes include low noise and exceptional grip.
Giti Tire has won three Renault Group homologations. Its GitiSynergyE1, in size 185/65 R15 88H, will be fitted as original equipment on the Dacia Sandero, Logan and MCV which are available in every major market throughout Europe. The news follows Giti’s inaugural European placement with the Volkswagen Group.
Alcohol safety and training specialist AlcoDigital has agreed a contract with Renault Trucks to showcase and offer alcohol safety devices for their latest range of LCV Master business fleet vehicles, which will be displayed at the Freight in the City exhibition on 7th November 2017.
Groupe Renault has reportedly approved the supply of 50,000 tyres from Iranian tyre maker Yazd Rubber Industries Complex to its subsidiary Renault Algérie. IFP News writes that in addition to supplying Renault, Yazd is now also in negotiations with Volkswagen following the car maker’s entry into Iran.
Cataclean has become the main sponsor of Daniel Rowbottom’s DRM team in the 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup series. Cataclean’s corporate development director Graham Fraser explained: “The Clio Cup gets such fantastic exposure running alongside the British Touring Car Championship that it makes it a great opportunity for us to get in front of a new audience and promote our product. We’re looking forward to sharing the Clio Cup grid and supporting Daniel in his racing journey.”
Renault Trucks has introduced Urban Lab 2 – its distribution concept vehicle – at this year’s Pollutec at Lyon’s Eurexpo exhibition centre until December 2 2016. Developed with six partners under the collaborative Efficient Distribution Truck (EDIT) project, the vehicle combines innovative technology in aerodynamics, hybridisation of the engine, tyres and vehicle-infrastructure communication to achieve potential fuel savings of up to 13 per cent. Having partnered Renault on its Optifuel Lab 1 and 2 projects, Michelin is developing energy-saving tyres.
When not producing tyres, Continental is a major player in the automotive systems sector, and now its products are also providing cars with extra oomph and greater fuel efficiency. The company reports it is “electrifying” one diesel variant of both the new Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic models.
Renault, the French car maker, may stop offering diesel engines in most of its cars sold in Europe. The proposed move is a reaction to the cost of ensuring that diesel engines comply with tighter emissions regulations and the crackdown follows last year’s diesel emissions scandal involving German car maker Volkswagen.
At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Renault lifted the wraps on the fourth generation of its Scénic multi-purpose vehicle. The new model is equipped across the range with 20-inch rims as standard, a bold choice for a mass market car yet a size exterior designer Jérémie Sommer pushed, claiming the larger diameter rims form a “fundamental part” of the Scénic’s “perfectly-balanced silhouette and pleasing proportions.” The tyre size of choice for the new Renault is 195/55 R20, and Goodyear will act as exclusive all-season tyre supplier. The tyre maker will also deliver summer tyres for certain models.
