The Renault Master is a large van produced by the French manufacturer Renault since 1980, now in its third generation. It replaced the earlier Renault Super Goélette light trucks.^[1] Opel has sold versions of the second and third series vans as the Opel Movano in Continental Europe and Vauxhall Movano in the United Kingdom. All three generations have been designed and manufactured by Renault, irrespective of the brand. Renault Trucks markets it as the Renault Trucks Master.

Over its lifetime, several different body styles have been available, from the standard van to bigger models with an increased load area, height, and longer wheelbases with an LWB prefix. Panel vans are very common, but pickups are also available. Heavier duty models of the Master were also sold by (now Volvo owned) Renault Trucks as the B series, later as the Messenger and the Mascott.

The original Renault Master was launched in September 1980. Originally launched with the 2.4 L (2,445 cc) Fiat-Sofim diesel engine, and from 1984 also with the 2.1 L (2,068 cc) power unit. In rare cases the Master was sold with a 2.0 L or 2.2 L Renault petrol engine.

In 1990, a marginally larger (2499 cc) version of the Sofim diesel replaced the earlier version.

They competed with a number of other manufacturer's products, and completed Renault's commercial range, after the Dodge 50 Series, which was latterly being built as the Renault 50 Series, after Renault's acquisition of the Dodge production facilities in the United Kingdom (at the time of Peugeot's takeover of Chrysler Europe).

The smaller Renault Trafic was also launched in 1980, resulting in a large range of light commercial vehicles.

The Master was distinctively styled with the sliding door design and unusual round door handles, similar to those of the Fiat Ritmo/Strada. The van was manufactured at Renault's then new SoVAB Batilly plant in northeastern France.^[4]

The second generation Renault Master, which arrived in November 1997, was more conventional in appearance and, though primarily developed by Renault, was available from 1998 as the almost identical Opel Movano (badged in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Movano), and from Renault's closely related partner Nissan, from whom it was available as the Nissan Interstar from 1999.

This arrangement mirrors the collaboration between these companies on the Master's smaller counterpart, the Renault Trafic; within the industry, similar platform sharing arrangements existed between Fiat and Peugeot/Citroën, and also between Volkswagen and Mercedes.

The second generation of the Renault Master and the third generation of the Iveco Daily share many panels and some components of the cab, including the doors due to an agreement between Iveco and Renault stipulated in July 1994.

The agreement provided for the production and sharing of common components for a total of 120 thousand pieces a year produced in the various factories of Brescia (Italy, Iveco), Suzzara (Italy, Iveco), Valladolid (Spain, Iveco) and Batilly (France, Renault factory).^[7]

The Master used the Renault S-Type engine in S9U and S8W/S9W versions, the G-Type engine (G9T) and the Nissan YD engine. Displacements available (not across all chassis/body sizes) included 2.2, 2.5, and 2.8 litres with a range of power outputs.

The van received a mid life major facelift in the end of 2003, with the headlight area being heavily restyled (together with cosmetic changes to rear lights, wing mirrors, and dashboard), resulting in the front end somewhat resembling the smaller Trafic. Like its predecessor, the van was available in a number of sizes and configurations, and was a popular base for conversion to ambulance bodywork.

For the facelifted Master, the 2.8 litre engine option was replaced in some markets with the 3.0 litre ZD3 engine derived from the Nissan ZD30 engine, variants ZD3 200 or 202 for transverse mount front wheel drive arrangements and variants; 600, 604, 606 or 608 for rear wheel drive arrangements. The grille was redesigned in 2007 on Renault-badged models.

• Facelifted Renault Master (2003–2010)
• Facelifted Renault Master rear (2003–2010)
• Renault Master II Phase 2 used by french national police in 2017.
• Opel Movano A (1998–2003), low roof, short wheelbase minibus
• Opel Movano A (2003–2010), medium roof, long wheelbase minibus
• Nissan Interstar (1999–2003), high roof, medium wheelbase van
• Nissan Interstar (2003–2010), medium roof, medium wheelbase van
• Vauxhall Movano A

A new generation of the Renault Master was introduced in the summer of 2010, again including the rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Nissan NV400. It is the first time that either the Opel/Vauxhall or Nissan has been available with single/twin rear wheel drive.

The M-type 2.3 litre four cylinder diesel engine is shared by all four marques, and is available in three states of tune, from 100 PS (74 kW; 99 bhp) to 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp). Renault Trucks discontinued the Mascott and sold the third generation Master in chassis cab format only, with payloads of up to 2.5 tonnes.^[13]

In the United Kingdom, the Movano is available in a large range of height, length and weight configurations, and capable of transporting up to 4,500 kg (9,900 lb).^[14] In 2014, the front grille was facelifted on the Renault Master but the facelift did not apply to the Opel/Vauxhall versions. On 18 April 2016, Renault announced starting producing an off-road version of the Renault Master, with a four-wheel drive layout.^[15]

In South Korea, FF Layout Master L1H1(S) and L2H2(L) panel van were launched on 15 October 2018. They are imported from France. The first Master in South Korean market will be diesel with manual gearbox. Short version trim(S)'s price are 29,000,000won, Long body van(L)'s price are 31,000,000won. Renault Korea possibly consider the competitors as the Hyundai Starex and Hyundai H350.

In 2019, a facelifted model was introduced for the 2020 model year.

In 2021, the Opel/Vauxhall Movano was discontinued due to the partnership of Opel/Vauxhall with Groupe PSA, now known as Stellantis, and replaced with a new Movano, based on the Fiat Ducato.

In 2022, the Nissan version reverted back to using the Interstar name.

• Renault Master rear panel van
• Renault Master Low Loader (2011–2014)
• Nissan NV400 long wheelbase panel van
• Opel Movano B medium roof, long wheelbase panel van
• Renault Master (2014–2019)
• Vauxhall Movano (Pre-facelift)
• Renault Master (2019–present)
• Vauxhall Movano (Post-facelift)

Notes

The fourth generation Master was unveiled on November 21, 2023 at the Solutrans Motor Show in Lyon.^[25] It is available with both combustion, electric and hydrogen powertrains.^[26]