{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Société de Véhicules Automobiles de Batilly SNC | logo = | logo_caption = | image = | image_caption = | trading_name = <!-- d/b/a/, doing business as - if different from legal name above --> | native_name = <!-- Company's name in home country language --> | native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. If there is more than one native name, in different languages, enter those names using {{tl|lang}}, instead. --> | romanized_name = | former_name = | former type = | type = Subsidiary | traded_as = | industry = Automotive | genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies --> | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 1 July 1980 | founder = | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | location_city = Batilly | location_country = France | locations = <!-- Number of locations, stores, offices, etc. --> | area_served = | key_people = Javier Novo (Director) | products = Master IV | production = 126,461 (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sovab-renault-batilly.fr/chiffres-cles |title=Nos chiffres clés |publisher=SOVAB |accessdate=20 August 2017}}</ref> | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies --> | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = Renault | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = [http://www.sovab-renault-batilly.fr www.sovab-renault-batilly.fr] | footnotes = | intl = | bodystyle = }} {{Infobox factory |name = Batilly factory |image= |caption= |built= {{Start date|1979}} |location= |coordinates= {{Coord|49.173306|5.978394|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |industry= |products= |employees= 2,141 (February 2017) |architect= |style= |area= 101 hectares |volume= 2,5 million |address= SOVAB Batilly, Zone industrielle, BP 2, 54980 Batilly, France |defunct= <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> }}
The '''Société de Véhicules Automobiles de Batilly''' ({{IPA|fr|sɔsjete də vɛikyl otɔmɔbil də batiji|French}}) ('''SoVAB''') is a subsidiary of the French car manufacturer Renault, created in 1980 to operate the light commercial vehicle plant located at Batilly.<ref name=AA>{{cite web |url=http://www.renault.com/en/groupe/renault-dans-le-monde/nos-implantations/pages/usine-batilly.aspx |title=Batilly factory |publisher=Renault |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140409170743/http://www.renault.com/en/groupe/renault-dans-le-monde/nos-implantations/pages/usine-batilly.aspx |archivedate=9 April 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=6 October 2016}}</ref>
==History== The project to create a new facility at Batilly, Meurthe-et-Moselle, was begun by Renault's subsidiary Saviem in 1972. It was continued when Saviem was merged with Berliet to form Renault Véhicules Industriels (RVI).<ref name=A>{{cite web |url=http://www.sudautomobile-sovab.fr/Historique%20Sovab.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829010101/http://www.sudautomobile-sovab.fr/Historique%20Sovab.pdf|title=Historique SoVAB |trans-title=SoVAB History |language=French |publisher=Sudautomobile-sovab.fr|accessdate=9 April 2013 |archivedate=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The factory was constructed between 1976<ref name=T>{{cite book |last=Tipler |first=Jhon |title=Trucks |year=1999 |publisher=Chartwell Books |page=122 |isbn=978-0-785-81090-2}}</ref> and 1979. In 1980 Renault took from its subsidiary RVI a 25% stake of the factory's capital to form SOVAB. At the same year the factory started to manufacture the first-generation Master.<ref name=B>{{cite web |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/regions/lor/default.asp?page=themes/ouvrages/ecoscopie_54/hab_ed_equip_auto.htm |title=Filières et développement économique |trans-title=Sectors and economic development |language=French |publisher= Insee (Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques) |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref> The first-generation Trafic was introduced in 1981 and the Renault B in 1982.<ref name=A/> During the following years Renault collaborated with General Motors and in 1997,<ref>{{cite book |title=World Automotive Industry Trends. 1997 Yearbook |year=1997 |publisher=WAIT |page=110}}</ref> they launched the Master II which was also marketed as Opel Movano. From 1995 onwards the Batilly factory became the sole assembler of the Trafic I and its German clone the Opel/Vauxhall Arena, after Chausson's Creil factory was closed down.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/reorganisationdeux-generations-de-vehicules-sur-une-ligned-ici-a-1997-la-sovab-filiale-de-renault-accueillera-le-remplacant-du-master-dans-son-usine-lorraine-de-batilly-petits-volumes-obligent-le-nouv.N77233 |title=Deux générations de véhicules sur une ligne |trans-title=Two generations of vehicles on one line |language=French |publisher=L'Usine nouvelle |date=23 November 1995 |accessdate=29 August 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829193712/http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/reorganisationdeux-generations-de-vehicules-sur-une-ligned-ici-a-1997-la-sovab-filiale-de-renault-accueillera-le-remplacant-du-master-dans-son-usine-lorraine-de-batilly-petits-volumes-obligent-le-nouv.N77233 |archivedate=29 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The model was discontinued in 2000. Renault kept Batilly when sold RVI to Volvo in 2001. In 2010 was introduced the Master III.<ref name=AA/>
==Facilities== The SOVAB complex comprises 101 hectares of which 181,838 m<sup>2</sup> are covered. There is a single production line. The vehicles assembled by the company are sold by Renault, Opel, Vauxhall, Nissan and Renault Trucks. On 13 June 2013, SoVAB produced its 2,000,000th unit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.automania.be/fr/auto/renault-f/renault-actualites/vehicules-utilitaires-legers-groupe-renault-2-000-000-d-unites-produites-par-la-sovab |title=Véhicules utilitaires légers : Groupe Renault : 2.000.000 d'unités produites par la SoVAB |trans-title=Light commercial vehicles: Renault group: 2,000,000 units produced by SoVAB |language=French |publisher=Automania.be |date=14 June 2013 |accessdate=29 November 2014}}</ref>
Within SOVAB there is also a Renault Tech workshop which has 6,800 m<sup>2</sup> and employs 72 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lejournaldesentreprises.com/editions/54/actualite/entreprise-du-mois/lorraine-sovab-renault-tech-le-vehicule-utilitaire-haute-couture-06-12-2013-212199.php |title= Lorraine. Sovab - Renault Tech : Le véhicule utilitaire haute couture |trans-title=Lorraine. Sovab - Renault Tech: The high fashion utility vehicle |language=French |publisher=Le Journal des Enterprises |date=6 December 2013 |accessdate=29 November 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214083231/http://www.lejournaldesentreprises.com/editions/54/actualite/entreprise-du-mois/lorraine-sovab-renault-tech-le-vehicule-utilitaire-haute-couture-06-12-2013-212199.php |archivedate=14 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Current Vehicles manufactured== thumb|left|200px|Renault Master IV on the Batilly plant production line.
* Renault Master IV (2024−present)
==Former Vehicles manufactured== * Renault Master/Renault Trucks B series/Renault Trucks Messenger (1980−1997) * Renault Trafic (1981−2000) * Renault Master II/Renault Trucks Mascott (1997−2010) * Renault Master III (2010−2024)
{{Clear}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Renault France assembly}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Societe De Vehicules Automobiles De Batilly}} Category:Renault Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1980 Category:1980 establishments in France Category:Motor vehicle assembly plants in France