This is bad news for all those affected – and of course their families. There are always hidden casualties to any redundancy. Let’s hope those made redundant can find suitable alternative employment.

Renault have made big progress in recent years with both build quality and reliability. The Driver Power 2010 survey has the poor Laguna Mk2, Megane Mk2 and Clio Mk2 showing poor results in these areas but the MK3 versions are in a different league, particularly the Megane, which scored a highly impressive 11th for reliability and a stonking 5 th position overall.

Renault's failing is that they no longer have a unique selling point. After some dodgy reliability and build quality issues mainly in the 2000 to 2004 period, their models improved significantly in both those areas. The problem was that simultaneously they toned down the styling and design flair. Le Quement appears to have moved on. The 2001 to 2005 Laguna was a lovely looking car, its midlife update spoiled it and the MK3 looks quite awful from any angle. It is appallingly out of proportion, the front look downright ugly and the rear is spoilt by lights that are too high. The Coupe was little better, too large a gap between the tyres and the wheel arches and a particularly gormless-looking front. The MK3 Megane is a bit too bland, particularly the interior. Competent but bland.

It is difficult to see what a Renault offers compared to an equivalent Ford or Hyundai.

The other problem Renault face is that the competition is not just tough - it's fierce. Manufacturers such as Ford are hacking away at the traditional Renault market (Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo C-max, S-max are class-leading cars) and Hyundai are attacking from below, offering good value quality well-built cars with excellent warranties.

Being competent is no longer enough. The standard in almost all sectors is such that little short of excellence across the board will suffice.

The alliance with Nissan should have been brilliant - a combination of Nissan reliability with Renault design flair. It doesn't seem to have worked.

The introcuction of DACIA could be interesting.

There is a future for Renault in the UK but they've got to start designing characterful cars again. Cars that get people talking and into showrooms. Why can't we have a Megane MK2 but as well built and improved reliability of the MK3?

Citroen can do design flair and quality, so what are Renault playing at?

Renault have sorted out the quality and reliability but now need to - frustratingly - go back and re-visit what they used to do so well and so naturally - build some cars with flair.

I think Renault have been proactive in cutting their dealers - I think other will have to follow since the debt-fuelled consumer days are over.

The next Clio had better be good – damn good.