The French are currently up in arms against high fuel prices and the fear of inflation is weighing on the whole economy as a whole.
But Renault is is not willing to let these gathering clouds rain on its parade so the maker used the biennial Paris Motor Show event, which runs until October 23, to revel in its glorious past and present the shape of things to come.
Paris Mondial is the only European car event worth mentioning this year and because it's taking place right on his front doorstop, Renault boss Luca de Meo brought along six new models.
The new metal is spread over several stands - and naturally the models are all electrics. Petrol-powered cars are in the shade these days anyway.
Renault have already announced a revival of the R5 runabout and wheeled out a be-spoilered, muscular homage to the classic R5 Turbo.
The dashboard of this electric drifter contains 10 digital screens that work like widgets. To start the car, you have to jab a "free play" button on the centre console.
A new edition of the cult utilitarian R4 is also on show and it is set to go on sale within two years as an electric compact SUV.
Those impatient to drive off in a new car can enjoy the world premiere of the new Kangoo as an electric car for the whole family. With a modest range of just under 300km, it will touch down early next year.
Renault subsidiary Dacia seeks to redefine its pedestrian design language with a featherweight all-terrain buggy called Manifesto. It also announced the upcoming first hybrid drive in the Jogger.
The concern's sporting offshoot Alpine, paraded an outlandish concept hypercar named Alpenglow. It points the way to the French firm's next generation of cars as it moves away from petrol power.
Renault's mobility arm Mobilize brought two concepts to the Paris Motor Show. The Duo quadricycle seems like a successor to the narrow Renault Twizzy, while the Solo is a single-seat version.
All these innovations helped Renault boss de Meo to secure maximum attention of regular fair visitors, but also attract a special guest.
President Emmanuel Macron grabbed the opportunity to visit three of the four Renault stands and he spent almost half an hour there browsing the new models.
That's easy to understand because to be honest, there is not so much else to see at the Paris Motor Show. Previously spread over half a dozen halls, it now fills only three - and even in those, there is plenty of space between the stands.
This leaves plenty of space for accessories, vintage cars, seating landscapes and expanses of bare concrete floor.
No wonder - the organisers have clearly received more cancellations than acceptances.
The Stellantis Group weighed in with the public premiere of the quirky 408 crossover at Peugeot. The new c-segment family car squares up against Renault's Arkana and its own Citroen C5 X sister as well as the Skoda Octavia and Ford Focus.
DS showed the upgraded seven-series while Jeep has unveiled its Avenger baby EV for Europe that will initially only be available with front-wheel drive.
But Citroën, of all French companies, was missing. And yet the wacky Oli concept car, as an idea for an affordable electric, would have fitted in perfectly with the current mood. Corporate siblings Fiat and Opel were also conspicuous by their absence.
These are not the only truants. There was not one single brand from Germany, although Mercedes-Benz at least took advantage of the car salon's attention and unwrapped the new EQE SUV on the eve of the fair.
With a range of up to 480km and up to 505 kW/687 hp, it is supposed to go on sale next summer at prices of just under 80,000 euros.
Apart from the Germans, many Asian names are also missing. None of the Japanese and Koreans made it to the banks of the Seine.
That allowed others to seize the opportunity and fill the voids in Paris with new humdrum, mass-produced goods from China.
Electric market leader BYD is celebrating its debut in Europe and trained the spotlight on the Atto3, also known as the Yuan Plus, the Tang and the Han, the three cars that are to be launched in the spring. The Chinese fielded the Seal, which aims at would-be Tesla Model 3 buyers.
Subsidiaries of the Great Wall Group (GWM) showed off the Coffee 01, a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of around 150km while Ora pitched the Funky Cat, a neat electric runabout with curved design elements and frameless doors.
Vietnam's Vinfast is presenting a range of electric debutants with which the new brand intends to compete in the compact and mid-size classes in Europe from spring onwards.
Of course, there are a few way-out models to be seen - including two luxury sedans driven by hydrogen: the Namx and Machina from French start-up Hopium. The latter maker is brimming with confidence.
"We aim to topple Tesla from the top," said the manufacturer. The car is clearly a concept with many details still to be worked out. Whether buyers will get high on Hopium remains to be seen.
Admittedly, the few exhibitors are fighting valiantly against the fading importance of the Salon. Now and again there is even a whiff of old fair magic when De Meo leads President Macron through the hall in a flurry of flashbulbs.
