French car manufacturers

The Paris region is one of the few French regions able to boast at least two major world class automobile manufacturers, Renault and PSA

Since 1903 the French automotive industry has led the world with over 30,000 vehicles produced by over 30 manufacturers. Although in the past few years the country might have been left with only two major manufacturers, France’s automobile industry remains a world leader. Renault-Nissan is the world’s number 4 manufacturer while PSA Peugeot-Citroen is number 8.

The French automotive industry in figures:

• 3 out of every 4 vehicles manufactured by the two French groups are sold outside France.

• 23% of all vehicles sold in the European Community are French.

• 10% of the working population work directly or indirectly for the automobile industry.

The Most Beautiful Automobile Avenue in the World: The Champs Elysées

The Champs Elysées, a section of Paris that extends from the Louvre Pyramid to La Défense, an obligatory passage for patriotic parades has been a fashionable place to walk since the late 1800. These days you can find anything along the Champs Elysées: films, haute couture, high street fashion, restaurants, fresh vegetables, perfumes and even racing cars!

From the early 1900 the Champs Elysees was conquered by the automobile and very soon it became the favourite show room stage. In 1910, Louis Renault was the first to install his show room there. The Champs Elysees might be one of the world’s most expensive avenues in terms of commercial real estate, but the world’s car automotive leaders have no hesitation in paying top rates for a showroom here. It is argued that the Champs Elysees attracts 80 million people every year. For this reason, the showrooms are not simple sales outlets, they are prestigious addresses used to meet and host events; millions are spent on famous architects and interior designers to create comfortable and luxurious environments.

Some of the best known addresses are Renault at number 53, Citroen at number 42, Peugeot at 136, Mercedes at 118 and Toyota at number 79.

Automotive production is the core business of PSA Peugeot Citroën. Nearly 85,000 men and women work in 17 production centres

• In 2008, PSA Peugeot Citroën's production sites manufactured 3,322,600 vehicles.
• In 2008, 1 904 000 vehicles (vehicles and CKDs) were sold in the world by Peugeot.
• Citroën sold, in 2008, 1,356,000 vehicles (vehicles and CKDs). The Citroën C5 has exceeded its sales objectives, in a segment under pressure.
• Thanks to the launching of the Citroën Nemo and Peugeot Bipper, the Group PSA has strengthened its leadership in Western Europegrowing its market share by 1.3 points to reach 19.9%
• PSA Peugeot Citroën holds on to global market share of 5% in 2008, standing firm in strongly falling markets.
• Some 13,000 vehicles are produced every day by the Group's plants, along with 11,000 engines and 12 500 gearboxes.
• In 2008, PSA Peugeot Citroën continued its expansion in South America, slightly increasing its market share to 5.5%.
• In 2009, Peugeot will make substantial steps to expand market coverage with the new 308 CC, its first crossover (the 3008) and its first compact MPV..

Renault present at the Cannes 2009 festival

For the 26th consecutive year, Renault is an official partner at the Cannes Film Festival Between May 13 and 24, the company supplied a fleet of 100 vehicles, including the Vel Satis model, officially used by French President Nicolas Sarkozy .

Outside France Renault is also an official partner of red carpet events. In 2008, Renault became the official partner of the 8^th International Film Festival in Marrakech offering a fleet of Vel Satis and Lagunas to drive film makers and actors around the city. The same year, Renault’s Spanish subsidiary signed a partnership with the country’s leading film event, theInternational Film Festival in San Sebastian.

But Renault’s relationship with the cinema industry is not limited to offering red carpet vehicles for film Festivals. Renault cars have also been featured in several films like: A View to a Kill (1985) where Roger Moore does amazing things at the wheel of a Renault 11 in a classic sequence at the EiffelTower as James Bond. More recently in Rush Hour 3 (2007) Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker take part in an impressive car chase across Paris in a Renault Espace.