Revoz

The first assembly deal of Renault in Slovenia was signed with Ljubljana-based Litostroj in 1969. In November of that year Litostroj started to produce under licence the Renault 4, which was eventually nicknamed "Katrca" (phonetically from the French 'quatre' in a diminutive form) and became the most-produced Renault model within the country.{{cite web |url=http://www.sloveniatimes.com/happy-birthday-renault-4 |title=Happy Birthday Renault 4! |work=sloveniatimes.com |publisher=The Slovenia Times |date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124035652/http://www.sloveniatimes.com/happy-birthday-renault-4 |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=live}} Litostroj also manufactured transmissions for French-assembled vehicles.{{cite journal |url=http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/receo_0338-0599_1980_num_11_3_2298 |date=1980 |last=Gutman |first=Patrick |title=Coopération industrielle Est−Ouest dans l'automobile et modalités d'insertion des pays de l'Est dans la division internationale du travail occidentale (IIe partie) |trans-title=East−West industrial cooperation on automobiles and modes of integration of Eastern European countries in the international division of Western labor (Part II) |language=fr |volume=11 |issue=3 |journal=Revue d'études comparatives Est-Ouest |pages=57–100 |publisher=Editions NecPlus |issn=2259-6100 |doi=10.3406/receo.1980.2298 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6SX3KiD5b?url=http://www.persee.fr/articleAsPDF/receo_0338-0599_1980_num_11_3_2298/article_receo_0338-0599_1980_num_11_3_2298.pdf |archive-date=12 September 2014 |url-status=live}} The deal ended in 1972.{{cite book |last=Turnock |first=David |title=The Economy of East Central Europe, 1815−1989: Stages of Transformation in a Peripheral Region |year=2004 |publisher=Routledge |pages=305–306 |chapter=Economy, industry and agriculture |isbn=0-415-18053-8}}

{{main|Industrija Motornih Vozil}}

In the mid-1950s, a Slovenian company called Agroservis partnered with Auto Union, building a factory to produce DKW models called Moto Montaža. In 1959, it was renamed Industrija motornih vozil (Industry of Motor Vehicles) or IMV. From 1963 to 1972 it assembled British Motor Corporation's Austins, but in 1973 it signed a partnership agreement with Renault, building Renaults 4 (mainly), 12, 16 and 18.{{cite web |url=http://www.revoz.si/en/inside.cp2?cid=50A1DC36-A564-8F6D-AAEF-BB43A84AB644&linkid=inside |title=History |publisher=Revoz |access-date=6 October 2012}} In 1976 IMV became the second-largest manufacturer by volume in Yugoslavia after Zastava. The company manufactured 26,000–49,000 cars per year between 1977 and 1990, but huge misguided investments in 1978 left it on the verge of bankruptcy.{{cite book |last=Palairet |first=Michael |editor-first=David F. |editor-last=Good |title=Economics transformations in East and Central Europe: legacies from the past and policies for the future |series=Contemporary Economic History of Europe |year=1994 |publisher=Routledge |page=106 |chapter=The Rise and Fall of Yugoslav Socialism |isbn=0-415-11266-4}} IMV also assembled the Renault 9 locally.

In 1988, Renault (as minority holder) and IMV formed a joint venture and created Revoz. Since the early 1990s it became one of the largest exporters (more than 5% of total country's exports) and employers (with more than 2000 workers) of Slovenia. The company started to manufacture the Renault 5 alongside the 4 (Revoz was the last plant where these cars were built). In 1991, Renault became the major company's shareholder, with a 54% stake. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development the key reason behind Renault's investment was to have a factory for supplying the big Yugoslavia's domestic market, although that country's dissolution made it to transform Revoz into an export-oriented company.{{cite book |title=OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Slovenia |series=OECD Investments Policy Reviews, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |volume=1 |year=2002 |publisher=OECD Publications |pages=24–25 |chapter=Foreign Direct Investment Trends and Prospects |isbn=92-64-19697-8}} Since 1993, the company assembles the Clio. Revoz managed the Serbian operations until a Renault subsidiary was created.

In December 2001, Renault increased its ownership to 66,68%.{{cite book |last1=Mihaescu |first1=Olga |last2=Rialp |first2=Alex |last3=Rialp |first3=Josep |title=La internacionalización de la empresa española en los nuevos estados miembros de la UE: Guía práctica |trans-title=The internationalisation of Spanish companies in the new UE member states: Handbook |series=Documents d'Economia Industrial |volume=24 |year=2005 |publisher=Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |page=97 |language=es |chapter=Las relaciones de España con los NEM |trans-chapter=Spain's relationships with NEMs |isbn=84-933208-5-4}} In 2002, Revoz's commercial branch was split to form the subsidiary Renault Nissan Slovenia d.o.o, in charge of sales. In 2004, Revoz became a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault. From 2010 to 2013, the company manufactured the Wind.

In early 2012, with European markets' demand declining, the company had to suspend its night shift and personnel. Revoz also negotiated with the trade unions shorter work shifts. In January 2013, the production returned to normal levels. The company manufactured new Renault and Daimler models to improve the production output.{{cite web |url=http://www.sloveniatimes.com/production-re-launched-at-revoz |title=Production re-launched at Revoz |work=sloveniatimes.com |publisher=The Slovenia Times |date=14 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013}} The first model developed by the Renault-Daimler collaboration, the third-generation Renault Twingo, entered into production in May 2014 and was followed by Daimler's second-generation Smart Forfour by autumn 2014, with both cars sharing many parts.{{cite web |url=http://www.sloveniatimes.com/revoz-launches-production-of-new-renault-twingo |title=Revoz launches production of new Renault Twingo |work=sloveniatimes.com |publisher=The Slovenia Times |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}}

By 2022, the Smart Forfour production ended, increasing the company's idle manufacturing capacity, and demand for its products further decreased because of the COVID-19 pandemic, chips shortages, and declining demand for small cars in Western Europe. Revoz reduced its workforce in 2021 and 2022, keeping just one work shift for the Clio and Twingo.{{cite web |url=https://www.24ur.com/novice/slovenija/revoz.html |title=Do aprila v Revozu odpuščenih še 450 ljudi. Je ogrožen obstoj tovarne? |work=24ur.com |first=Mark |language=Slovenian |last=Vidrih |date=21 January 2022 |access-date=22 January 2022}}

The Revoz factory is located in Novo Mesto, covering 584,000 square meters. Since April 2007 it has produced the Twingo having, since 1993, assembled the Clio. It has a Sheet Metal Shaping Department (press shop), a Paint Shop Department and an Assembly Shop.{{cite web |url=http://www.revoz.si/en/inside.cp2?cid=2169BA16-5FC5-1A30-EE9C-839D28FEB1AE&linkid=inside |title=Production Process |publisher=Revoz |access-date=6 October 2012}} In 2010 the production output was of 212,680 cars.

The following car models were or are still being manufactured in Novo Mesto:

• Renault Wind
• Renault Twingo
• Renault Twingo Sport
• Renault Clio Storia
• Smart Forfour
• Renault Clio 4 (until 2019)
• Smart EQ Forfour (until 2022)

• Renault Clio 5 (from 2019)
• Mitsubishi Colt (from 2023)
• Renault Twingo
• Renault Twingo Electric

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Renault}}

{{Automotive industry in Slovenia}}

Category:Renault

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1988

Category:Car manufacturers of Slovenia

Category:Car manufacturers of Yugoslavia

Category:Economy of Novo Mesto