The Renault site at Batilly, SOVAB (Société de Véhicules Automobiles de Batilly), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Groupe Renault. This bodywork/assembly factory produces the Master in over 350 versions to meet the requirements of the most demanding trade users. The factory currently has a production capacity of 715 utility vehicles per day.
Identity
- FOUNDED IN: 1980
- LEGAL FORM AND CAPITAL OWNERSHIP: Société en Nom Collectif (a form of partnership) with capital of €7,622,000
- ACTIVITY: Bodywork-assembly
- WORKFORCE: 2 185 at December 31, 2018
- PRODUCTION LINES: 1 line
- MODELS BUILT: Master 3, Master Z.E., Nissan NV400, Movano/Vauxhall (GM)
- AREA: 81 ha, o/w 198 604 m2 of covered buildings
- CERTIFICATIONS: ISO 14001, ISO 9002, LABEL RHP
- ADDRESS: SOVAB Batilly, Zone industrielle, BP 2, 54980 Batilly, France
- TELEPHONE: + 33 1 76 89 34 99
production 2018
- Master 3: 96 346 units
- Master Z.E.: 307 units
- Nissan NV 400: 6 945 units
- Others: 39 021 units
BACKGROUND
- 1980: creation of the Batilly plant. SOVAB becomes a general partnership (SNC) forming part of Renault (instead of Renault V.I.). Manufacturing of Master begins.
- 1981: manufacturing of Trafic begins.
- 1987: discontinuation of Trafic production (resumed in 1989).
- 1994: SOVAB first Renault plant to achieve SQCA classification.
- 1996: LCVs distribution partnership between Renault and General Motors Europe.
- 2003: manufacturing of Master rear wheel drive. 1 million manufactured vehicles. Manufacturing of the new Master begins.
- 2006: SOVAB beats its production record with 123,202 vehicles manufactured in one year.
- 2009: discontinuation of the Master propulsion.
- 2010: production of the 1 050 101th Master X70. This is the end of 13 years of success. Launch of New Master X62.
- 2011: new Master is elected VAN OF THE YEAR 2011. Start of production of the NV400 (X62 Nissan).
- 2012: SOVAB confirms its environmental commitment and installs 43,000 solar panels (75,000 m2 – the equivalent of 11 football pitches).
- 2013: the two millionth vehicle produced by the SOVAB left the workshops. €30 million were invested to modernise the site and improve working conditions.
- 2014: updating of the Master range with new design and new range of engines.
- 2015: the site celebrated its 35th anniversary. Basketball champion Tony Parker came to pay tribute to employees’ expertise.
- 2016: new production record : 132 825 vehicles. New company project, CAP+2018, and an ambition "Together, to become the best van factory in Europe"
- 2017: in March, a visit by French Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve.
- 2018: launch of the Master ZE and commercial launch of the Master in Korea; the factory is a test site for the carriage of parts in trucks running on natural gas for a greener transport industry.