Dec 1, 2010 13:49 GMT  ·  By

Renault has confirmed plans to launch Europe's first Apple iAd on December 2, with a campaign for Renault Twizy, its new 100% electric tandem-style city car. Built inside iOS 4, iAd allows users to stay within their current app while engaging with an ad, even while watching a video, playing a game or using in-ad purchase to download an app or buy iTunes content.

“iAd is Apple's revolutionary new mobile advertising network, reaching millions of iPhone and iPod touch users right in their favorite apps,” Renault officials said. “By being the first iAd campaign launch in Europe, Renault is furthering its mobile strategy to develop marketing, communication and service solutions with leading names in their industries.”

On November 18, Apple announced plans to expand its mobile advertising network to the UK and France in December, with Germany to follow in January.

The Mac maker confirmed in a report that iAd was scheduled to launch in Europe with iAds from L’Oréal, Renault, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier, Unilever, Citi, Evian, LG Display, AB InBev, Turkish Airlines and Absolute Radio.

Apple claimed at the time that iAd had rapidly emerged as a powerful new way for advertisers to reach millions of iPhone and iPod touch users right in their favorite apps, while providing a significant new revenue stream for developers, ever since its US debut in July.

“iAd has signed on over half of the top 25 leading US national advertisers in just four months, with a projected 21 percent share of US mobile display advertising revenue for 2010,” Apple said, citing research firm IDC.

“We’re thrilled to add leading global brands to the iAd Network in Europe and create even more great opportunities for developers,” added Andy Miller, Apple’s vice president of iAd.

“In just four months, we’ve doubled the number of advertisers on the network and thousands of developers now have a valuable new source of revenue."