Louis Renault hit the jackpot in 1898 when, after driving Maitre Viot to a party, was asked by the latter to sell him the vehicle for 40 louis. He later returned home that night with a total of 12 orders – since most of the guests at the party wanted a piece of their own – and slowly began to produce small automobiles.

In order to cover the production costs and become successful, Louis founded the Renault Frères Company along with brothers Marcel and Fernand. At the same time, Marius Berliet – born in Lyon, France – purchased the Audibert and Lavirotte workshops to found his very own truck company. When WWI started, Berliet was one of the few French manufacturers involved in truck production. During the war, the company received no less than 40 orders from the French Army every year.

Renault was also developing strong contacts with the French government, as the company was an important supplier of aircraft engines, gun carriages and tanks throughout the First World War. Together, the two plants were producing around 50 tanks every year for the French Army.

Soon after the war ended, Renault established itself as the most important private manufacturer in France. Their commercial vehicle department launched the first road tractor that featured a servo brake, while also equipping all its fleet with diesel engines in the early '30s.

Berliet underwent production problems in the between-wars era, but finally got back on its feet after WWII, when Marius purchased no less than 5 rival companies: Laffly, Rochet, Schneider, Camiva and Citroën Poids Lourds. At the same time, Renault's Truck Department merged with two other truck manufacturers, Latil and Somua, to found the new Saviem Company (also known as Public Limited Company for Commercial Vehicles and Mechanical Equipment).

Two decades later, in 1978, the two major French manufacturers – Berliet and Saviem – joined forces to form the new Renault Véhicules Industriels, basically the commercial vehicle department of Renault Group. Starting from 1980, all new production series were given the name Renault.

In 1978, Renault acquired all of Chrysler's European commercial vehicle operations via PSA Group and became owner of all Dodge production in Great Britain and Spain. While deciding to keep the Dodge badge on the new models produced in the UK (along with the Renault one), the Spanish fleet was completely renamed after the French manufacturer.

Almost a decade later, in 1987, Renault purchased 40% worth of stocks from United States  manufacturer Mack, in order to enter the North/Central/South American & Caribbean market. Three years later, Renault became full-owner of Mack Trucks. In 1992, Renault Véhicules Industriels slightly changed its name into Renault V.I., one year before acquiring Czech Republic's Karosa Company (bus manufacturers).

Renault's bus&coach department was purchased by Fiat-Iveco's same department in 1999, forming a new company, Irisbus. This newly-formed subsidiary was purchased completely by Iveco in 2003 and gave up the Renault name for their future production series.

The remaining part of the Renault V.I. was later sold to Volvo Trucks in 2001, changing its name into Renault Trucks. Five years later, in 2006, the newly-named company purchased French cross-country and tactical military vehicles manufacturer ACMAT.