Pierre Dreyfus
Encyclopedia
Pierre Dreyfus was a high flying French civil servant who in 1955 became a top businessman.
Between 1947 and 1955, he occupied senior administrative positions in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, becoming in 1951 'directeur de cabinet' at the ministry. He combined his civil service duties with the vice-presidency of the newly nationalised Renault
auto business between 1948 and 1955, and was appointed Renault CEO, following the death on February 11, 1955, in a road accident of Pierre Lefaucheux
, the previous incumbent. He retained the position until his own retirement from the company in 1975.
Like his predecessor, Dreyfus secured his reputation in the top job at Renault by successfully overseeing the launch and production of a model developed under his predecessor: in this case the commercial success was that of the Renault Dauphine
. By the end of 1958, with Dreyfus less than three years into his time at the top, a million Renault 4CV
s and half a million Dauphine
s had been sold. The following year, 1959, Renault ranked as the world's sixth largest auto-maker. The collapse of North American demand for the Dauphine triggered a crisis for the company that was well-publicised, especially in the USA, with unsold Dauphines on North American docksides adding to the half million unsold Detroit built products clogging the US auto-market by the end of 1960: for Renault salvation arrived just in time in the form of the Renault 4
, developed under Dreyfus and built at the rate of 1,000 cars a day by the end of 1962. During Dreyfus's twenty years in charge, Renault went on to consolidate its position as France's top selling car maker, gaining particular recognition in the 1960s for popularizing front wheel drive hatchback
sedans across Europe, most notably the 4
, 5
and 16
models.
During the early years of the Mitterrand
presidency, Dreyfus became active on the political scene, serving briefly as Industry Minister between June 1981 and June 1982 under prime minister Pierre Mauroy
.
Pierre Dreyfus was not related either to Alfred Dreyfus
, famous because of the 'Dreyfus Affair
' effectively publicised by Emile Zola
, nor to the race-driver Pierre Louis-Dreyfus.
Between 1947 and 1955, he occupied senior administrative positions in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, becoming in 1951 'directeur de cabinet' at the ministry. He combined his civil service duties with the vice-presidency of the newly nationalised Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
auto business between 1948 and 1955, and was appointed Renault CEO, following the death on February 11, 1955, in a road accident of Pierre Lefaucheux
Pierre Lefaucheux
Pierre Lefaucheux was a leading French industrialist and a Compagnon de la Libération. -Early years:Born at Triel-sur-Seine, and descended from the French inventor Casimir Lefaucheux, Pierre was second of the four children of Pierre André Lefaucheux and Madeleine Dulac.He volunteered for military...
, the previous incumbent. He retained the position until his own retirement from the company in 1975.
Like his predecessor, Dreyfus secured his reputation in the top job at Renault by successfully overseeing the launch and production of a model developed under his predecessor: in this case the commercial success was that of the Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
. By the end of 1958, with Dreyfus less than three years into his time at the top, a million Renault 4CV
Renault 4CV
The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....
s and half a million Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
s had been sold. The following year, 1959, Renault ranked as the world's sixth largest auto-maker. The collapse of North American demand for the Dauphine triggered a crisis for the company that was well-publicised, especially in the USA, with unsold Dauphines on North American docksides adding to the half million unsold Detroit built products clogging the US auto-market by the end of 1960: for Renault salvation arrived just in time in the form of the Renault 4
Renault 4
The Renault 4, also known as the 4L , is a hatchback economy car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and 1992. It was the first front-wheel drive family car produced by Renault....
, developed under Dreyfus and built at the rate of 1,000 cars a day by the end of 1962. During Dreyfus's twenty years in charge, Renault went on to consolidate its position as France's top selling car maker, gaining particular recognition in the 1960s for popularizing front wheel drive hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
sedans across Europe, most notably the 4
Renault 4
The Renault 4, also known as the 4L , is a hatchback economy car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and 1992. It was the first front-wheel drive family car produced by Renault....
, 5
Renault 5
The Renault 5 was first unveiled on 10 December 1971, being launched at the beginning of 1972.The Renault 5 was styled by Michel Boué, who died before the car's release, the R5 featured a steeply sloping rear hatchback and front dashboard...
and 16
Renault 16
The Renault 16 is a hatchback produced by French automaker Renault between 1965 and 1980 in Le Havre, France. The reviewer in the May 1965 edition of the English "Motoring Illustrated" said: "The Renault Sixteen can thus be described as a large family car but one that is neither a four door saloon...
models.
During the early years of the Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
presidency, Dreyfus became active on the political scene, serving briefly as Industry Minister between June 1981 and June 1982 under prime minister Pierre Mauroy
Pierre Mauroy
Pierre Mauroy is a French Socialist politician and former Prime Minister under François Mitterrand . Mauroy also served as Mayor of Lille from 1973 to 2001. Mauroy is currently emeritus mayor of Lille.-Biography:...
.
Pierre Dreyfus was not related either to Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer of Jewish background whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in modern French and European history...
, famous because of the 'Dreyfus Affair
Dreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided France in the 1890s and the early 1900s. It involved the conviction for treason in November 1894 of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian Jewish descent...
' effectively publicised by Emile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
, nor to the race-driver Pierre Louis-Dreyfus.
External links
- http://www.humanite.fr/journal/1994-12-27/1994-12-27-714952
- http://www.autonews.com/files/euroauto/inductees/2006dreyfus.htm (English)
- http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/biblioth/docu/rapports/chefs.html