French Army Chief of Staff, General Pierre Schill, visits the Renault Trucks plant in Bourg-en-Bresse

General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, visited the Renault Trucks plant in Bourg-en-Bresse on 11 March. The visit gave the French manufacturer an opportunity to showcase its industrial capabilities, its expertise in adapting vehicles for military use and its ongoing support for the French armed forces. The programme continued at the La Valbonne test centre, where Renault Trucks vehicles were tested in demanding conditions during live demonstrations.

On Wednesday 11 March, Renault Trucks welcomed General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT), to a site visit at its Bourg-en-Bresse manufacturing plant. The event reflects Renault Trucks’ ambition to strengthen its position as a key French industrial player and a trusted partner capable of meeting the operational needs of the Army.

Showcasing industrial capacity for military requirements

Dès son arrivée à l’usine Renault Trucks de Bourg-en-Bresse, le Général Schill a été accueilli par Antoine Duclaux, président de l’entreprise. Les échanges portant sur les activités Défense du constructeur et la visite des lignes d’assemblage des camions ont mis en lumière :

On arrival at the Bourg-en-Bresse plant, General Schill was welcomed by Antoine Duclaux, the company’s President. Discussions around the manufacturer’s defence activities and a tour of the truck assembly lines highlighted: 

• The company’s clear commitment to defence activities;
• Its large-scale industrial capacity across four sites in France (Bourg-en-Bresse, Blainville-sur-Orne, Vénissieux and Limoges);
• The highly responsive production lines able to meet tight delivery timelines for the volumes of trucks adapted to military requirements;
• The expertise of teams at the Bourg-en-Bresse adaptation centre in addressing specific armed forces needs.

Truck testing in demanding conditions at La Valbonne

The visit continued with a session of real-world tests at the La Valbonne centre.  General Schill observed a fleet of vehicles put through their paces across a range of terrains and operational scenarios. He also had the opportunity to ride onboard an 8x8 tractor unit.

Renault Trucks, a committed industrial partner for the armed forces

Beyond supplying and adapting vehicles, Renault Trucks also emphasised the availability of spare parts and the strength of its global network of authorised distributors and repairers, which are key factors in providing long-term support for the French armed forces in their operations.

The manufacturer reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to sustaining the Army’s operational capabilities and to safeguarding France’s sovereignty in the strategically vital field of military logistics.