He had the chance to meet many employees, who greatly appreciated the friendly, good-natured manner of this great driver.
Grosjean was welcomed by the plant’s managing director, Mendi Ammad. He began by answering questions from journalists before being taken on a tour of five workshops – pinions, assembly, gearboxes and housing, prototypes and the foundry – followed by the engine assembly department where Renault’s flagship engine, the Energy dCi130 is built.
The F1 driver witnessed the involvement of the plant’s 4,000 employees in turning out more than 1.3 million engines in 2011, over 62% of which went for export. Renault Group and Alliance brands (Renault Samsung Motors, Dacia, Nissan and Infiniti) represent 54% of these exports. the main buyer for Cléon’s engines. Other customers being Suzuki and Opel. The Cléon Plant will soon produce engines for Daimler.
Cléon, located in Normandy, France, is a pillar of Renault’s powertrain strategy. It concentrates on Diesel engines, which highlight the Group’s expertise and innovative drive.
This is the third plant I have visited and I now realise how deeply you are committed to making efficient production engines. We have the same objectives in Formula 1 and I too benefit from your efforts for my engine he said.
And after his first podium finish at the Bahrein GP, we wish Romain Grosjean a great season with his Lotus F1!