France

June 30, 2008 -- Sports car manufacturer, Aston Martin, and bespoke tailor, Kilgour of Savile Row, teamed up at a unique event yesterday at the BETC Photographic Studio in Paris. At Kilgour’s first-ever fashion show in Paris presenting its spring/summer collection, Aston Martin created its very own haute couture bespoke Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe for the occasion, inspired by the latest creations.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe

The special V8 Vantage was finished in a unique Morning Frost Satin paint, with the texture of fine silk. The interior is influenced by Kilgour’s latest collection and finished in Kilgour Midnight Blue, with the seat-inserts adorned with a polka-dot effect.

June 25, 2008 -- Renault is giving Internet users a new sales communication interface as part of the upgrade of the renault.fr website and the creation of "Renault Universe," the first completely 3D automotive website: univers.renault.fr.

Nearly 80% of prospective buyers first browse the Internet before going into a dealership to buy a new vehicle. Renault now gives them an opportunity to view the full range in a virtual showroom before visiting a dealership. The new interface reflects Renault’s concern to remain close to its customers, to provide quality service and give ensure that they are well-informed before they buy. With this user-friendly, interactive interface, Renault once again makes the customer the focus of its approach to quality.

Weather: dry track, clouds and a few rain drops. Air: 23-25°C, Track: 24-29°C

Magny-Cours, France, 06/23/2008 -- BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica scored four points by finishing fifth in the French Grand Prix and had to hand over the lead in the drivers’ championship to race winner Felipe Massa (Ferrari). Nick Heidfeld didn’t make it into the points this time as he came 13th in Magny-Cours. In the constructors’ championship the BMW Sauber F1 Team remains second.

Robert Kubica: 5th
BMW Sauber F1.08-03 / BMW P86/8
Fastest Lap: 1:17.172 min on lap 16 (4th fastest overall)

From humble beginnings to global expansion

2008-06-20 -- The 50 million vehicles produced underline the strength and experience of Peugeot, a pioneer since 1891 in the world of motor cars. Peugeot has set its sights firmly towards the future.

1891 - 2008, 50 Million Peugeot Vehicles Produced

June 12, 2008 -- 2008 marks the tenth anniversary of the Renault Technocentre. This large-scale technological and architectural project was developed to provide Renault with benchmark status in automotive design and development. It offers its 11,500 resident employees cutting-edge resources for effectively carrying out their projects in an ultra-modern, environmentally-friendly atmosphere. In all, more than 20 vehicles have been developed there since its creation.

Renault Technocentre at Guyancourt (France)

Pau, 31st May 2008 -- BMW Team Germany's Augusto Farfus (BR) will start the seventh round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship from pole position. At the "Circuit de Pau Ville" in South-western France the 24-year-old beat the rest of the 25-strong field by setting a best time of 1:21.960 minutes. It's the first time this year a BMW 320si WTCC car will start the first race of a WTCC weekend from pole. At the same time, this is Farfus' maiden pole position as a BMW works driver.

Defending champion BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) was seventh, 0.719 seconds behind his fellow BMW driver. Farfus’ team-mate, Jörg Müller (DE) clocked the tenth-fastest lap of the afternoon. BMW Team Italy-Spain’s Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Félix Porteiro (ES) were 12th and 15th respectively.

27 May 2008 -- SciencesPo and Renault are holding a Diversity Conference at SciencesPo Paris on May 29 , following which the two organizations will sign an agreement. This international event will be attended by world-famous academics researching diversity issues and by senior managers of major companies with experience of real-world workplace issues. The conference will be opened by SciencesPo Director Richard Descoings, and the closing address will be given by Renault’s President and CEO Carlos Ghosn, the two initiators of the project.

Four major themes will be discussed in the light of the latest research on diversity and grass-roots experience in companies:
- Racial diversity and cultural barriers
- Diversity and economic performance

May 21, 2008 -- Volvo Cars' French sales company came out on top for customer satisfaction with the car purchasing process earlier this month. The French motoring magazine L'Auto Journal presented its Grand Prix des Marques Automobiles (car brand awards) in association with TNS-Sofres. The judges were 4,000 private motorists who have bought a new car some time in the last five years.

Turin 15 May 2008 -- For the first time, Lancia will be present at the Cannes Festival, due to take place from 14 to 25 May. The occasion will be marked by the Lancia Café, a meeting space set up on the beach of the Hotel Majestic where those taking part in the event will be able to meet and enjoy light brunches in a sophisticated, relaxing setting.

BMW Group presents itself with the film industry in an international cooperation

Cannes/Munich, 05/13/2008 -- May 15 marks the start of the 61st International Film Festival in the eternally glamorous town of Cannes on the coast of southern France. The BMW Group is right in the middle of things, a competent partner for the German, European and global film industry.

Poster "Quinzaine des Realisateurs" 40th Anniversary

The Munich-based company has a long tradition of cooperation with the film industry: alongside classic product placements, the BMW Group has also consistently supported the rise of young film talent both in Germany and world wide.

May 13, 2008 -- Renault has partnered the Cannes Film Festival since 1983. For this year’s event, held from May 14 to 25, 2008, Renault will be providing a luxury fleet to transport actors and personalities to and from the red carpet stairs.

Renault Vel Satis Fleet on the Croisette.: Cannes Film Festival-Renault celebrates 25 years of partnership.

Flower Road. Too many flowers can be a bad thing

May 7, 2008 -- The 4.2 class of Saint Aubin en Bray’s College Les Fontainettes in northern France has won the 2008 “Express Yourself!” competition following an exciting final including seven middle school classes from all over France. In all, more than 34,000 students learnt about road safety in France this year.

Exciting final
At Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées on May 7, 2008, the seven finalist classes in the “Express Yourself!” competition presented their projects with brio to a jury of communication professionals from the fields of road safety and advertising.

After deliberation, the jury awarded this year’s prize to the 4.2 class of Saint Aubin en Bray’s College Les Fontainettes.

The Design Universe of the New Citroën C5 on Show on the Champs-Elysées

4/4/2008 -- The first two seasons at C42, Citroën’s international showcase on the Champs-Elysées, were dedicated to sustainable innovation and Citroën’s sporting adventure. The new show explores the styling universe of the new Citroën C5.

The spectacularly staged exhibition focuses on the interior and exterior design of the distinguished newcomer. In both saloon and estate form, the new Citroën C5 is the height of sleekness and elegance.

Vehicle design inspired by creative arts

The 2008 Mondial de l’Automobile (Paris Motor Show) will be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

Over 500 international brands will be present and many new products will be presented to the world or Europe.

Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday : 10am - 10pm
Saturday to monday 10am - 8pm

Tickets:
Ticket (more 18 years old) : 12€
Ticket child age of 10 to 18 : 6 €
Children under age of 10 : free
Works council group (from 15 tickets) : 10€ / ticket
Tickets availables from 4 to 19 october 2008, one day entry pass.

Events:
Taxis from all over the world: Hall 8
Off-road track: on the terrace (enrol in the “Competition” area, Hall 7/1)
Indoor electric karting track: “Competition” area, Hall 7/1
Shopping mall: Hall 2/1

Exhibitors: TBD

March 2008 -- Venturi Automobiles presents at the EVER Show (Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energies show) for the first time the electric Citroën Berlingo specifically developed for the EV tender of La Poste.

The vehicle is equipped with a latest-generation electric powertrain. Thanks to this extremely compact technology, all the components such as motor, battery, and management system can fit in the room left by the thermic engine in the front compartment of the car.

This offers the major advantage of insuring the same load volume and playload as in a conventional version. The vehicle keeps also its whole integrity (road holding, braking, weight balance).

New Renault Clio Exception2: A Limited Edition with Upper-Range Overtones

Feb. 2008 -- Building on the success enjoyed last year by Clio Exception, with more than 35,000 cars sold across Europe, Renault is pleased to announce the release of 2008 Renault Clio Exception2, a limited edition offer which places the accent on dynamic performance, refined comfort and safety.

2008 Renault Clio Exception²

Based on the Dynamique version, Clio Exception2 boasts an extensive list of additional equipment and features, including part leather upholstery, 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels, extra-tinted rear windows and cruise control/speed limiter.

2/7/2008 -- Citroën partners the launch of the French version of Intersection, a hip US magazine dedicated to automotive fashion.

The French version of Intersection runs several articles from the US version, but unlike the original it covers all kinds of mobility topics providing they focus on style and design.

Cutback in France Due to Lack of Competitiveness

AKRON, Ohio, January 24, 2008 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that its European Union business unit is planning to reduce tire production at its two factories in Amiens, France, because their costs are not competitive.

The action will result in a reduction of up to 500 employees at the plants and follows a rejection in October 2007 by employees of company plans to modernize and renovate the plants.

18 January 2008, New Zealand - A1 Team France topped the time sheets in the second of today's two free practice sessions at Taupo as all 22 drivers took to the track with biofuel in their tanks, making history at round five of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season.

Despite not taking part in the rookie session this morning, 25-year-old French driver Loic Duval clocked the best lap of the day, completing the 3.5km circuit in 1m15.545s in glorious sunshine.

January 4, 2008 -- In 2007, Dacia sold 230,473 vehicles, that is, 17.4% more than in 2006. In Romania, Dacia sold 102,062 vehicles, out of which 95,212 as personal vehicles and 6,850 as commercial vehicles.

Highlights:
• Total sales increased by 17.4% as compared to 2006
• Dacia exported over 128,000 units
• France and Germany, the first two export destinations
• More than 290,000 CKD kits were shipped to the Logan assembly plants in Russia, Morocco, Columbia, Iran, India and Brazil

Dacia Logan, a growing product range