France

July 7, 2008 -- The prize-giving ceremony organized in Paris July 3rd by the French fleet management magazine L’Automobile & L’Entreprise saw Renault Laguna take the '2008 Company Car of the Year' award. After receiving Automobile Magazine's Trophée de l’Innovation (Trophy for Innovation) in 2007 in recognition of its fourwheel steering chassis, as well as the '2007 Most Beautiful Car of the Year' and '2007 Most Beautiful Interior of the Year' prizes at the Festival Automobile International de Paris earlier in the year, this is the fourth time that Renault Laguna has been picked out for a leading award by automobile industry.

2008 Renault Laguna GT - front/side

July 9, 2008 -- “Amid a global economic slowdown that had a particularly strong impact on automotive markets in the industrialized countries, the Renault group pursued the growth started at the end of 2007,” said Patrick Blain, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

2008 Renault Koleos

Highlights:
• The Renault group’s world sales rose 4.3% in first-half 2008 to 1,325,504 units. The Group increased its global market share by 0.2 points to 3.8%.
• Renault brand sales rose 4% and Dacia sales increased 13.3%. Renault Samsung Motors sales fell 7.2%.

2008-07-02 -- Eurapac Trading Company Ltd., the distributor of Great Wall Motors (GWM) attended 17th Annual 4wd Auto-Show (SALON DU 4X4) from June 12th to 15th 2008. Annual 4wd Auto-Show is the most important and most influential event in the vehicle industry of New Caledonia market. About 10,000 visitors (around 5% of the total local population) from all over the island visited this great event and about 250 units of vehicles were sold out.

2008 GW Wingle

Most of the leading world-wide known pickup or SUV brands attended this auto show through their local distributors.

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