Dongfeng Renault
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA former 50–50 Dongfeng Motor–Renault joint venture that manufactured and sold Renault vehicles in China from 2013 until its reorganization in 2020.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company, commonly known as Dongfeng Renault, was a Chinese automobile joint venture established by Dongfeng Motor Group and Renault Group. The partners agreed to create the company in 2013, completed the relevant approvals in early 2014, and invested approximately RMB 7.76 billion on an equal basis. Its principal purpose was to manufacture, market, and sell Renault-badged passenger vehicles in mainland China. The venture developed from the earlier Sanjiang Renault partnership. Renault and China Aerospace Sanjiang Group had established Sanjiang Renault in 1993, but that operation struggled because of limited localization, relatively high vehicle prices, and weak production volume. Dongfeng later acquired the Chinese shareholder's interest and used the resulting production qualification as part of the foundation for the new venture. Regulatory restrictions initially meant that the Wuhan operation was primarily oriented toward sport utility vehicles and commercial vehicles; passenger-car production qualifications were expanded later. Dongfeng Renault selected Wuhan, Hubei, rather than Guangzhou, as the location for its principal manufacturing base. The factory began production in February 2016 and was designed for an estimated annual capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles. The site also included an engine workshop and research-and-development facilities. Dongfeng Renault concentrated on the growing Chinese SUV market, producing the Renault Koleos and Renault Kadjar, while also introducing locally produced or assembled electric and compact models during its later period. Renault vehicles such as the Fluence, Latitude, Talisman, imported Koleos, Captur, Megane R.S., and Espace were also sold through the broader Renault China business during overlapping periods. The business achieved its strongest reported annual sales in 2017, when it sold about 72,000 vehicles. Its performance then deteriorated sharply. Sales fell to approximately 18,500 units in 2019, and reported deliveries in the first quarter of 2020 were only 663 vehicles, an 88.65 percent year-on-year decline. The downturn reflected weakening demand for Renault products in China, a limited and increasingly competitive product portfolio, pressure on the dealer network, and the broader disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 14, 2020, Dongfeng announced a planned restructuring under which Renault would transfer its 50 percent interest to Dongfeng and cease Renault-brand business activities through the joint venture. On August 28, 2020, Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company was renamed Dongfeng Motor (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. Renault therefore exited the shareholder structure, and the former joint-venture plant was subsequently repositioned as a Dongfeng intelligent-manufacturing base, including production associated with the Voyah brand. Dongfeng Renault is consequently a defunct automotive joint venture rather than an active Renault operating company.
History
Dongfeng Renault's background can be traced to Sanjiang Renault, a partnership formed between Renault Group and China Aerospace Sanjiang Group in 1993. Sanjiang Renault was established in Hubei with a capital investment reported at approximately US$98 million. China Aerospace Sanjiang held 55 percent and Renault held 45 percent. The venture introduced the Renault Trafic light passenger vehicle in 1995 and assembled a small number of Renault Espace vehicles from complete knock-down kits. The Sanjiang operation never achieved substantial scale. Its products had a low degree of local content, which contributed to high prices and weak market acceptance. By 2003, cumulative production was reported at only 4,906 vehicles, although some accounts place the effective end of production in 2004. China Aerospace Sanjiang withdrew from light-vehicle production in 2000, and subsequent attempts to restructure or transfer its interest involved Aerospace Brilliance, Xiang Torch, Weichai-related entities, and other aerospace-linked shareholders. Those efforts failed to establish a durable manufacturing partnership with Renault, in part because the parties could not agree on production qualifications and model introductions. Renault subsequently pursued a closer relationship with Dongfeng Motor. The companies' discussions took place within the broader Renault–Nissan–Dongfeng relationship. When Carlos Ghosn signed the Dongfeng Nissan joint-venture agreement in the early 2000s, the parties envisaged a future role for Renault vehicles in mainland China. Renault's Chinese sales increased from fewer than 900 vehicles in 2008 to more than 24,200 in 2011, strengthening the case for local manufacturing. Negotiations with Dongfeng accelerated around 2011 and 2012, although the parties took time to settle the factory location, the treatment of Sanjiang Renault's assets and qualifications, and the structure of the new enterprise. Dongfeng acquired the relevant Chinese equity interest in Sanjiang Renault in 2012. The project obtained additional Chinese government approvals during 2013, and the partners signed the joint-venture contract on December 16, 2013. China's Ministry of Commerce approved the arrangement on January 26, 2014. Dongfeng and Renault each contributed half of the reported RMB 7.76 billion investment. The new company ultimately built its principal manufacturing operation in Wuhan, where Dongfeng was headquartered, rather than in Guangzhou, a location that had also been considered because of Dongfeng Nissan's passenger-car presence. Dongfeng Renault inherited production qualifications associated with the earlier operation, initially limiting its vehicle scope largely to SUVs and commercial vehicles. The company received authorization to produce sedans in 2017, although its commercial emphasis remained centered on SUVs. The Wuhan plant began production in February 2016, with an estimated annual capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles. The complex included vehicle manufacturing, an engine workshop, and research-and-development facilities. Dongfeng Renault launched the Renault Koleos in March 2016 and added the Kadjar during the same year. Its model range later included the Renault City K-ZE and Captur in 2019. Other Renault vehicles, including the Fluence, Latitude, Talisman, imported Koleos, imported Captur, Megane R.S., and Espace, were sold in China through Renault's local commercial operations during the relevant periods. The company also sought to build consumer awareness through sponsorship of the Wuhan Marathon from 2016 through 2019. Despite the initial promise of the SUV-led strategy, performance weakened considerably. Annual sales reached about 72,000 vehicles in 2017 but fell to approximately 18,500 in 2019, a decline of roughly 63 percent from the prior year. Sales during January–March 2020 were reported at just 663 vehicles, down 88.65 percent year on year. The COVID-19 outbreak added further disruption to an already deteriorating business. On April 14, 2020, Dongfeng Group announced a restructuring plan under which Renault would transfer its 50 percent shareholding to Dongfeng and discontinue Renault-brand activities associated with the venture. The transaction and operating changes ended the joint venture's original business model. On August 28, the company adopted the name Dongfeng Motor (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. The Wuhan plant was subsequently converted into a Dongfeng intelligent-manufacturing base, including production for Dongfeng's Voyah marque. Dongfeng Renault therefore ceased to operate as an independent Renault-branded joint venture in 2020.
- 2020
Renault exits and the company is renamed
[1]Renault transfers its stake to Dongfeng, ends the Renault-brand joint-venture business, and the company becomes Dongfeng Motor (Wuhan) Co., Ltd.
- 2019
Electric and compact models are added
[1]The Renault City K-ZE and Renault Captur join the venture's later-period locally produced model range.
- 2017
Sedan production qualification is obtained
[1]Dongfeng Renault receives qualification to produce sedans, expanding beyond its initial SUV-oriented production authorization.
- 2016
Wuhan plant starts production
[1]The Wuhan manufacturing base begins production and Dongfeng Renault launches the Renault Koleos.
- 2014
Equal ownership is approved
[1]China's Ministry of Commerce approves the venture, which is structured with equal ownership by Dongfeng and Renault.
- 2013
Dongfeng Renault joint venture is formed
[1]Dongfeng and Renault complete the principal project approvals and sign the joint-venture contract in December.
- 2012
Dongfeng acquires the predecessor venture's Chinese interest
[1]Dongfeng and Aerospace Sanjiang sign an equity-transfer agreement connected with the restructuring of Sanjiang Renault.
- 1995
Renault Trafic enters production
[1]Sanjiang Renault places the Renault Trafic light passenger vehicle on the Chinese market and also performs limited Espace CKD assembly.
- 1993
Sanjiang Renault is established
[1]Renault and China Aerospace Sanjiang Group establish the predecessor Sanjiang Renault venture in Hubei.
Products and positioning
A mainstream and upper-mainstream Renault passenger-vehicle operation focused particularly on SUVs for the Chinese market.
SUV · 2016
Renault Koleos
The Koleos was Dongfeng Renault's first major locally produced Renault model and the central vehicle in its China market launch. It positioned the venture in the expanding mainstream SUV segment and helped establish the Wuhan plant's initial production program. Koleos production and sales ran from 2016 to 2020.
SUV · 2016
Renault Kadjar
The Kadjar was introduced as a locally produced Renault SUV during Dongfeng Renault's expansion phase. It complemented the Koleos with a more compact crossover format and formed part of the venture's strategy of concentrating on SUV demand in China. It was produced and sold from 2016 to 2020.
Electric city car · 2019
Renault City K-ZE
The City K-ZE was an electric compact model added to the Dongfeng Renault range in the venture's final period. Its introduction represented an attempt to participate in China's rapidly developing electric-vehicle market alongside the company's established SUV products.
Crossover SUV · 2019
Renault Captur
The Captur was part of Renault's compact crossover offering in China. Dongfeng Renault's reference model list identifies Captur activity from 2019 to 2020, while an earlier imported version was sold through Renault's China operations before the venture's final period.
Imported passenger vehicles
Imported Renault models
Renault's China business also handled imported vehicles that were not necessarily manufactured by Dongfeng Renault. The documented imported range included the Fluence, Latitude, Talisman, Koleos, Captur, Megane R.S., and Espace at different times between 2010 and 2020.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Wuhan Marathon sponsorship
China
Dongfeng Renault began sponsoring the Wuhan Marathon as part of its local brand-building and community-marketing activity.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through 2019, but no independently documented sales or brand-impact result is specified.
Brand decisions
2020
Restructure the joint venture and transfer Renault's stakeM&ABackground
Weak sales, a shrinking Renault product position in China, and the wider disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic made the existing joint-venture structure unsustainable.
Action taken
Renault agreed to transfer its 50 percent interest to Dongfeng and stop Renault-brand activities through the company.
Aftermath
The company was renamed Dongfeng Motor (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. in August 2020, and the former plant was repurposed within Dongfeng's intelligent-manufacturing network.
2016
Launch the Renault KoleosProduct launchBackground
The venture's initial production qualifications and market strategy favored SUVs, which were gaining importance in China.
Action taken
Dongfeng Renault launched the Koleos as its first major locally produced model.
Aftermath
The Koleos became a core product of the Wuhan operation, followed by the Kadjar and later electric and compact models.
2013
Establish an equal Dongfeng–Renault manufacturing ventureStrategyBackground
Renault sought a stronger manufacturing and sales presence in China after the limited results of Sanjiang Renault and negotiations with Dongfeng.
Action taken
The partners signed a contract for a 50–50 joint venture, supported by a reported combined investment of RMB 7.76 billion.
Aftermath
The venture developed a Wuhan factory and became Renault's principal local manufacturing platform in China for its later SUV program.
Planned joint-venture investment. RMB 7.76 billion (At establishment)
Recent events
Reported
Dongfeng Renault proposed stake transfer[2]
Dongfeng and Renault signed a non-binding memorandum outlining a preliminary intention for Renault to transfer its 50% stake in Dongfeng Renault to Dongfeng.
Reported
Dongfeng Renault planned cessation of Renault-brand activities[3]
As part of the proposed restructuring, Dongfeng Renault was slated to cease business activities related to the Renault brand; the source describes this as a plan, not a completed cessation.
Reported
Renault announces intended transfer of its Dongfeng Renault stake[4]
Renault announced that it intended to transfer its entire 50% stake in the Dongfeng Renault joint venture to Dongfeng Motor Group. The companies had signed a memorandum recording a preliminary intention.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Renault exits China fuel passenger-car business[5]
The article says Renault's new strategy in China means the end of Dongfeng Renault and that Renault will leave the fuel-powered passenger-car business in China, while Renault itself will not exit the Chinese market.
Dongfeng Renault launches Kolebin in China[6]
Dongfeng Renault launched the Kolebin model in China at an event on October 25, 2019.
Sources6 sources
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