Louis Schweitzer (CEO) - Renault Highlights in The Schweitzer Years (1992-2005)

Renault Highlights in The Schweitzer Years (1992-2005)

• 27 May 1992 – Louis Schweitzer takes over from Raymond Lévy as head of Renault
• December 1992 – Renault wins the Formula One Constructors' and drivers' championships.
• 6 September 1993 – Renault and Volvo sign a merger agreement
• 2 December 1993 – Volvo pulls out of the merger
• 18 July 1994 – The Renault privatization bill becomes law. The Régie Nationale des Usines Renault is renamed Renault.
• 13 September 1994 – The French government opens Renault to outside capital
• End-1994 – Renault shares are floated at FRF 180,90. Renault joins the CAC40 index
• 1 June 1995 – Renault decides to open a plant in Brazil
• 3 July 1996 – Renault is fully privatized, with the French government reducing its stake from 52% to 46%
• 19 November 1996 – Renault Scénic is named European Car of the Year 1997
• December 1996 – Carlos Ghosn is appointed Executive Vice President.
• 27 February 1997 – The closure of the Belgian Vilvoorde plant is announced.
• December 1997 – Williams Renault wins the Formula One Constructors' Championship for the sixth time.
• February 1998 – Renault starts its New Distribution (Nouvelle Distribution) project.
• 28 May 1998 – The Technocentre in Guyancourt, France is opened.
• 2 July 1998 – Renault and the City of Moscow set up OAO Avtoframos.
• November 1998 – Renault starts development work on a car retailing at €5.000,00.
• 4 December 1998 – Inauguration of the Ayrton Senna Plant in Curitiba Brazil.
• 27 March 1999 – Renault acquires 36,8% of the Japanese carmaker Nissan. Carlos Ghosn becomes head of Nissan
• 2 July 1999 – Renault takes control of Romanian carmaker Dacia.
• 18 October 1999 – Carlos Ghosn announces the Nissan Revival Plan.
• 21 April 2000 – Renault acquires South Korean carmaker Samsung Motors.
• 25 April 2000 – Renault sells its trucks business to AB Volvo in exchange for a 20% stake in the Swedish group. The future of Renault Trucks is assured.
• 12 March 2001 – Renault and Nissan draw up plans to set up a global joint purchasing unit, called Renault Nissan Purchasing Organisation
• 27 March 2001 – Laguna II becomes the first car ever to be awarded five starts in the EuroNCAP crash tests
• 30 October 2001 – Renault increases its equity stake in Nissan to 44,4%, and Nissan takes a 15% stake in Renault. The Renault-Nissan Alliance Board is created
• 20 December 2001 – Renault and Nissan inaugurate their first joint plant, used to assemble LCVs in Curitiba, Brazil.
• 28 June 2002 – Renault and Nissan set up Renault Nissan Information Services, the second joint venture under the Alliance
• 22 October 2002 – Production of the Trafic panel van starts at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, making Renault and Nissan's first joint production project in Europe.
• 19 November 2002 – Renault Mégane is named Car of the year 2003.
• 23 January 2003 – The Renault Production Way (SPR) is launched with the aim of ensuring that the Group's industrial system performs in line with the best in the world.
• 24 February 2003 – Claas becomes the majority partner in Renault Agriculture by acquiring a 51% stake
• 26 February 2003 – Renault invests €230 million in the production and marketing of its future X90 vehicle in Russia.
• 28 July 2003 – Renault takes control of its SOMACA subsidiary, previously controlled by the Moroccan government, to make the X90 in Morocco.
• 16 March 2004 – Renault lays the foundations for expansion in Iran by setting up Renault Pars.
• September 2004 – Dacia Logan - the €5.000,00 car goes on sale.
• February 2005 – Renault announces record sales and financial results.
• 22 February 2005 – Renault signs an agreement with Mahindra & Mahindra to produce Logan in India.
• 6 April 2005 – The Avtoframos plant in Moscow is inaugurated.
• 29 April 2005 – Carlos Ghosn takes over from Louis Schweitzer as president of Renault.