Renault has created two new firms to strengthen its operations in Romania and Scandinavia.

Renault Technologies Romania (RTR) and Renault Nordic (RN) represent a combined investment of E110 million and the creation of 1,600 jobs.

RTR comprises a newly-opened engineering and design centre in Bucharest, while RN has been created as a Stockholm-based central hub to manage activities in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

€100 million will be invested in RTR over the next two years to develop vehicles and powertrains.

By the end of 2009 RTR will employ 3,000 people.

RN will oversee 25 new model launches under the Renault and Dacia brands, with 13 launched by the end of next year.