Renault is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan, it is currently the world's fourth largest automaker.The French-Lebanese Carlos Ghosn is the current CEO. The company's most successful car to date is the Renault Clio, and its core market is France. The company is known for numerous revolutionary designs, security, technologies,clarification needed and motor racing.

Producing cars since late 1897, the Renault corporation was founded in 1899 as Societe Renault Freres by Louis Renault, his brothers Marcel and Fernand, and his friend Thomas Evert and Julian Wyer. Louis was a bright, aspiring young engineer who had already designed and built several models before teaming up with his brothers, who had honed their business skills working for their father's textiles firm. While Louis handled design and production, Marcel and Fernand handled company management.

The first Renault car, the Renault Voiturette 1CV was sold to a friend of Louis' father after giving him a test ride on 24 December 1898. The client was so impressed with the way the tiny car ran and how it climbed the streets that he bought it.