The story begins in the late 1960s, when General de Gaulle, fierce defender of an independent France, but also a world power, he will equip the country with nuclear weapons, withdraw from NATO in 1965, and tried to propose a "third way" between the two American and Soviet giants. If this position did not favor French manufacturers in the United States, it was quite different in Canada, at least in Quebec. Because since 1960, Jean Lesage, of the Liberal Party of Quebec, has ruled the province with the firm intention of returning economic power to Francophones, who then only held 7% of businesses.
Ceci donnera naissance à une entente entre le gouvernement québécois, la Régie Renault et l’État français, pour la création de la nouvelle usine d’assemblage S.O.M.A.(Société de Montage Automobile)au Québec.On November 20, 1964, an agreement was signed: the SGF will finance up to 3.5 million dollars a factory in Saint-Bruno, the Société de Montage Automobile (Soma), which will be responsible for mounting Renault models in CKD. Then charge Renault Canada Ltd to resell the models on the Canadian market.
The S.O.M.A. opened its doors on February 15, 1965 in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. The factory was to assemble the Renault Dauphine, R8, R10 and R12 but also Peugeot 404 and 204. But ultimately only the Renault 8, 12 and 16 and the Peugeot 404 (1 year of production) were assembled there, as well as parts bodywork for the R5 in CA/US standards.
A brief and tormented story...
Unfortunately, the initial optimism about the future of the factory was short-lived. Expected sales for these automobiles never materialized. On the one hand, Quebecers were not yet willing to buy such small vehicles which, moreover, were ill-suited to our winters. The factory was also plagued by numerous labor disputes and its managers accused of mismanagement.
The factory quickly suffered significant financial losses and relations deteriorated between the Quebec government and Renault, each accusing the other of not respecting its part of the contract. Years later we will learn that the leaders of Renault did not believe in the project and that it was the French government of Charles De Gaulle who would have forced their hand. Renault, from the beginning of the 1970s, wanted to get rid of this agreement, among other things because producing Renaults in Canada cost between $150 and $200 more per vehicle than importing its vehicles from Europe.
There was a first stop in production in 1972 to resume in 1973 with great hopes for the Renault 12. It was a waste of time, the factory, whose capacity reached 15,000 vehicles annually, will never reach this figure. The S.O.M.A. sought partners to make the factory profitable, especially Japanese, but all declined the offer. The plant closed permanently in 1974. That was the end of Renault's (and Peugeot's) industrial adventure in Quebec. The plant is converted to petrochemicals.
After car production in Canada ceased, Renault continued to export cars there. The supply of models was even greater than in the United States. Over the years, Renault 4CV, Dauphine, Caravelle, Estafette, R4, R8, R10, R12, R15, R16, R17, R5, R18, 30 TS, Fuego, Allliance, Encore and Medaillon were sold in Canada. Today, the models produced by S.O.M.A. still existing have become extremely rare. There are 4 R16s left today in Quebec!
Renault sales in Canada, between 1960 and 1985, according to M.C. Fertey (employee of Renault Canada Limitée at the time):
4CV 377
Dauphine 13.372
Caravelle 2.317
Caravelle Automatique 17
Estafette 452
R4 2.538
R4 Fourgonette 490
R8 4 vitesses 10.435
R8 Automatique 3.708
R8 S 514
R8 Gordini 125
R10 13.422
R10 Automatique 6.873
R16 L 1.756
R16 TL/GL 6.467
R16 TA 2.612
R16 TS 1.348
R12 base 1.477
R12 L 3.935
R12 TL/GTL 10.270
R12 L Automatique 1.731
R12 TL Automatique 2.004
R12 Station Wagon 4.029
R12 Station Wagon Automatique 1.300
R15 4 vitesses 2.457
R15 Automatique 699
R17 TL 184
R17 TL découvrable 266
R17 Gordini 642
R17 Gordini découvrable 307
R5 L 522
R5 TL/GTL 58.179
R18 7.454
R30 TS 426
Fuego 6.350
Alliance 38.518
Encore 16.671
The Manic another story in Quebec, but still with a taste of Renault
This is not Quebec's only adventure with the automobile, since the Manic GT was also built there, a sport coupe with a fiberglass body built by Automobiles Manic. Based precisely on a Renault 8 chassis, the car was the project of entrepreneur Jacques About, a former employee of Renault Canada. Its presentation at trade shows and exhibitions in 1969 and 1970 aroused real enthusiasm, but supply and cash flow problems quickly put an end to this dream of a Quebec car. Another story that will end in a hurry.