Editing Renault (section)

===Postwar resurgence (1945–1971)===
[[File:Renault 4CV BW 1.JPG|thumb|right|[[Renault 4CV]]]]
Under the leadership of [[Pierre Lefaucheux]], Renault experienced both a commercial resurgence and [[labor unrest]], that was to continue into the 1980s.

In the early 1950s, Renault assembled at least two models; "Standard Saloon" and "De Luxe Saloon" in England.<ref>"British Cars 1951", by Peter Chambers, APC Publications, Birmingham. Pictures and summary at p.35. Details at p.47 and p.54-55</ref>

[[File:1959 Renault Frégate Transfluide.jpg|thumb|left|[[Renault Frégate]], 1951]]
In secrecy during the war, Louis Renault had developed the [[rear engine]] [[Renault 4CV|4CV]]<ref name=Autoworld197404>{{cite journal | first = J. | last = Dewar McLintock |title= Thirty Remarkable years of Renault |journal= Autoworld |volume= 45 |page= 11 |date= April 1974}}</ref> which was subsequently launched under Lefacheux in 1946. Renault debuted its flagship model, the largely conventional 2-litre 4-cylinder [[Renault Frégate]] (1951–1960), shortly thereafter. The 4CV proved a capable rival for cars such as the [[Morris Minor]] and [[Volkswagen Beetle]]; its sales of more than half a million ensured its production until 1961.

[[File:Renault Dauphine photo.jpg|thumb|right|[[Renault Dauphine]]]]
After the success of the 4CV, Lefacheux continued to defy the postwar French [[Paul-Marie Pons|Ministry of Industrial Production]], which had wanted to convert Renault solely to truck manufacture,<ref name="50jahre">{{cite web| title = 50 Jahre Renault Dauphine| date=5 October 2006| publisher=Auto-Motor, 05.10.2006, In German| url = http://www.auto-motor.at/Auto/Oldtimer/Renault-Dauphine.html}}</ref> by directing the development of its successor. He oversaw the prototyping of the [[Renault Dauphine|Dauphine]] (until [[Pierre Lefaucheux#Death|his death]]), enlisting the help of artist [[Paule Marrot]] in [[Renault Dauphine#Paule Marrot|pioneering the company's textile and color division]].

The [[Renault Dauphine|Dauphine]] sold well as the company expanded production and sales further abroad, including Africa and North America.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1657867_1657681,00.html |title=The 50 Worst Cars of All Time|magazine=Time |date=7 September 2007|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> The Dauphine sold well initially in the US, although it subsequently became outdated against increased competition, including from the country's nascent domestic compacts such as the [[Chevrolet Corvair]]. Renault also sold the [[Renault Caravelle]] roadster, which was called the Floride outside North America.

[[File:Renault Floride S (2009-10-13).jpg|thumb|left|[[Renault Floride]], 1958]]
[[File:Rétromobile 2018 - Renault 8 Gordini type R1135 - 1970 - 002.jpg|thumb|Launched in 1964, the [[Renault R8 Gordini]] was the first sportive compact car for a public consumption price.<ref>Auto Plus (Auto Bild France) n°1362, 10 to 17 of October 2014–1964: La Renault 8 Gordini, la première "GTi" (translation : "1964 : Renault 8 Gordini, the first 'GTi'").</ref> ]]
During the 1950s, Renault absorbed two small French heavy vehicle manufacturers ([[Somua]] and [[Latil]]) and in 1955 merged them with its own truck and bus division to form the [[Saviem|Société Anonyme de Véhicules Industriels et d'Equipements Mécaniques]] (Saviem).<ref name=CBTT>{{cite book |last1=Carroll |first1=John |last2=Davies |first2=Peter James |title=Complete Book Tractors and Trucks |year=2007 |publisher=Hermes House |isbn=978-1-84309-689-4 |pages=66–67}}</ref>

[[File:Renault R4 BW 2016-07-17 13-45-32.jpg|thumb|left|1966 [[Renault 4]]]]
Renault then launched two successful cars – the [[Renault 4]] (1961–1992), a practical competitor for the likes of the [[Citroën 2CV]], and the rear-engined [[Renault 8]].<ref name="IDCH"/> The larger [[Renault 10]] followed the success of the Renault 8, and was the last rear-engined Renault. The company achieved success with the more modern and more upmarket [[Renault 16]], a pioneering [[hatchback]] launched in 1966, followed by the smaller [[Renault 6]].

[[File:R12TL.JPG|thumb|1969 [[Renault 12]]]]
On 16 January 1970, the manufacturer celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 1945 rebirth as the nationalised ''Régie Nationale des Usines Renault''. The 1960s had been a decade of aggressive growth: a few months earlier, in October 1969, the manufacturer had launched the [[Renault 12]], combining the engineering philosophy of its hatchbacks with the more conservative "three-box" design. The four-door [[Renault 12]] model slotted between the [[Renault 6]] and [[Renault 16]]. The model was a success. 1970 was also the first year during which Renault produced more than a million cars in a single year, building 1,055,803.<ref name=Automobilia1970>{{cite journal | first = René | last = Bellu |title= Automobilia |journal= Toutes les Voitures Françaises 1970 (Salon [Oct] 1969) |volume= 31 |pages= 40 |year= 2004 |publisher= Histoire & collections |location= Paris}}</ref>