early Merovingian graveyard. Written tradition says that Renningen was subject to the Villikation system of the Weißenburg monastery during the Carolingian period. 22½ farmsteads are mentioned, whereby the historical observations on the fate of this property raise the question as to whether these farmsteads were located within the later boundaries of the town. In the 11th and 12th centuries there was a nobility, which owned property in both towns, according to written records. In Malmsheim and the abandoned Altheim, Staufian style properties have been found. By the 14th century the community was organised to some extent, with the existence of a Schultheiß (Early form of Mayor) as well as a collective three-field system. At the dawn of the modern era, Renningen was a large village, characterised by its craftsmen, its town boundaries marked by a wall, which exists to this day. In 1982 Renningen was granted town rights. New development has expanded the former village well to the north. Religion Since the Reformation Renningen has been predominantly Evangelical. Only in recent time has a Roman Catholic community emerged once more. Alongside these, there is a New Apostolic community and the Liebenzeller Gemeinschaft. Areas of town Malmsheim Malmsheim was first mentioned in documents from 1075 as the property of the Weissenberg monastery under the name of Mahalbodesheim. During the municipal re-organisation of 1972, the town lost its independence and was incorporated into Renningen. By absorbing the new development area of Schnallenäcker (from 1996), Malmsheim had 6054 inhabitants as of 31 December 2004. Population development 1871: 2.849 1925: 3.389 1950: 6.311 1985: 13.268 2000: 17.142 2015: 17.107 International relations Renningen is twinned with: Mennecy (France), since 1982 Saalburg-Ebersdorf (Thuringia) Occhiobello (Rovigo )(Veneto) (Italia) Economy and Infrastructure Renningen is economically dependent on the wider community, a large percentage of the workforce work outside the district, for example at DaimlerChrysler in Sindelfingen or in Stuttgart. Nevertheless, there are employment opportunities, for example through Pininfarina, who are involved in Formula 1 and in manufacture of sports cars. Kromberg & Schubert, the major cable harness supplier to the German car industry also have a presence in the town. The DaimlerChrysler subsidiary MCC Smart previously had their main office in Renningen, as did Rinol AG, a manufacturer of floor coverings for industrial use, before their insolvency. Rinol, managed by former „Entrepreneur of the Year“, Kurt-Jörg Gaiser, were floated on the stock exchange on the same day as