Renault’s team principal has launched a withering attack on Formula One’s regulators over rule interpretations that have hurt leading teams.

Shares in Renault SA rose Monday after a top French official said the government could raise its ownership in French car makers as part of measures to help the auto industry.

France’s Renault SA said Friday that vehicle sales fell 28.5 percent in December as the global financial and economic crisis led to a “brutal” collapse of the market.

Orders for Renault cars were boosted in December by a government-sponsored euro1,000 bonus for French consumers who trade in old cars for new lower-emission models, a top executive at the automaker said Tuesday.

French car maker Renault SA said Wednesday that President and CEO Carlos Ghosn will add the title of board chairman to his functions when Louis Schweitzer steps down next year.

French carmaker Renault said Friday it will halt production at its Moscow plant for more than two weeks in December as the global financial crisis crimps demand for cars.

Auto manufacturer Renault Trucks, a subsidiary of Sweden’s Volvo, said Wednesday it would temporarily close three sites in France for up to 90 days in 2009 due to falling demand amid an economic slowdown.

French automaker Renault said Friday it will cut production at five sites after sales in October plunged more than 14 percent from a year earlier amid fallout from the financial crisis.

Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso of Renault won the Singapore Grand Prix, the first night race in F1.

Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is heading back to Renault.The 26-year-old Spaniard announced his return to the French team Monday after a turbulent season at McLaren.At Renault in 2005, Alonso became the youngest driver in F1 history.