PeugeotThe histories of the Peugeot family and of the company are directly linked to one region: eastern France, Montbeliard. The Lion, the emblem of the make, is also on the coat of arms of Franche-Comté, the birthplace of the family. Peugeot is an industrial adventure, but also a human one. It is the story of a family that was able to adapt to the changes of each age, while retaining a strong social conscience: setting up a savings bank, a mutual help organization; free treatment, insurance, hospitals, schools, a pension system, a 10 hour day, 33 years before it was law.
From the first tricycles to the latest models, the firm with Lion brand rapidly became one of the leading French manufacturers, before entering the international market.
1810-1858
Established in the east of France since the 15th century, the Peugeot family owns much land, on which in the 18th century it builds windmills, and develops weaving, spinning and milling businesses.
Montbeliard, the crossroads of Switzerland, Alsace and Franche-Comté, features abundant water resources and a skilled, industrious workforce. These are the factors that would determine the location of future industrial sites.
In 1810 the brothers Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot converted a mill into a steel foundry and plant for manufacturing saw blades, creating the company Peugeot Bros. This is the kick-off for the Peugeot family's industrial vocation. In 1858, the Lion brand is officially registered, activities become more industrialized and diversified: tools for all sorts of trades, household utensils, including the famous coffee grinders, sewing machines and various other items, including the frames for Second Empire crinolines.
Through hard work, tenacity and its innovative capabilities, Peugeot forges its reputation for quality and the robustness of its products.
1885-1935
In 1885 Armand Peugeot sets up bicycle manufacture at the Beaulieu plant. He exhibits the first steam-powered tricycle at the 1889 Paris World Exhibition. That makes Peugeot one of the pioneers of the automobile. The following year Peugeot abandoned steam in favor of petrol.
In 1896 a new company was set up, 'Société des Automobiles Peugeot', devoted exclusively to automobile manufacture. At the same time, the 'Sons of Peugeot Bros' company continued its traditional activities: tools, bicycles and shortly motorcycles, and between 1905 and 1915 a range of light vans called 'Peugeot Lion'.
In 1910 the two firms merged under the name 'Société Anonyme des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot'. The family then attacked the nascent automobile market.
The aerodynamic design, the symbol of an entire epoch, would influence car design until World War II. At Peugeot, it culminated in the launch of the 402 in 1935.
In 1960 Peugeot changed from being a specialist to a generalist: the production of classic sedans and small models. In 1974 the Peugeot Group acquired control of Citroen. The acquisition of the chevron brand was completed in 1976, giving birth to an automobile group with two distinct makes.
The second oil crisis in 1978 caused a crisis in the automobile industry, following three decades of growth. Peugeot decided to adapt itself without delay to an environment that had profoundly changed. This involved ensuring the long-term survival of the business, and maintaining its independence. Taking over the European subsidiaries of Chrysler and the Talbot adventure shook the company's solidity at the beginning of the 1980's. The success of the 205 and a major restructuring of the organization put Peugeot back on the road to success.
1997 marks the start of a major industrial reorganization, with the adoption of a platform policy and shared industrial tools at Peugeot-Citroen. Each brand retained its name, personality and sales network. That was the beginning of a vast exercise in rejuvenating the range, starting with the 206, followed by the 607, then the 307, and most recently the 407
The logo is the recognizable sign of a Brand, the visual expression of its values and its history. Through the lineage of the Peugeot logos find out about the history of the manufacturer.
1847
The first lion is designed for marking saw blades and steel products. It symbolizes the three qualities of Peugeot saw blades: the toughness of the teeth, the flexibility of the blade, and the speed of the cut. In 1850 the lion image appeared for the first time on the 'Peugeot Bros' arrow. Initially put on saw blades, this logo was registered in 1858, and for many years would mark the tools manufactured by the brand.
1889
1889 was a historic year for the make, with the launch of the first vehicle bearing the Peugeot name: a tricycle, the result of cooperation between Leon Serpollet, the steam expert, and Armand Peugeot. The lion is still shown on tools and cycles. On the other hand, it was missing from the first cars manufactured between 1890 and 1905. To mark these products, Armand Peugeot, who had founded the company Automobiles Peugeot made do with the words 'Automobiles Peugeot' on the radiators. Between 1905 and 1915, the profile of a lion on an arrow was, however, present on the 'Lion Peugeot' cars manufactured by Peugeot Bros.
The 1900 's
The Peugeot family, who still control the independent French motor manufacturer, began life as ironmongers, manufacturing coffee grinders, umbrella frames and bicycles - Peugeot racing bikes are still one of the best available in the world - before entering car production in 1876. In 1889 Peugeot produced a steam driven, three wheeler in conjunction with LÈon Serpollet. It had a tubular frame and a flash boiler, but steam was soon dropped in favour of Daimler V-twin engines which were installed in the frames along with handlebar steering. In 1891, a Peugeot was driven from Beaulieu-Valentigney to Paris, then on to Brest, the first such journey by a petrol-driven car. Such was the acclaim for this remarkable feat, Peugeot found there was substantial demand for its cars, rising from five sold in 1891, to no less than 72 in 1895 and a milestone 300 cars in 1899.
Britain first saw a Peugeot in 1895, when Sir David Salomons imported a 4 h.p. model. Another well-known name in motoring circles, the Hon. C.S. Rolls of Rolls-Royce fame, was selling another famous French marque, Panhard, but also took delivery of a Peugeot around this time. Again in 1895, one Andr* Michelin showed off his 2.7 litre Peugeot, fitted with the revolutionary invention: pneumatic tyres.
A new company entitled SA des Automobiles Peugeot was formed in 1897 to manufacture motor cars at Audincourt, taking over from the quaintly named ëLes Fils de Peugeot FrËres*, or The Sons of Brothers Peugeot. The cars became larger with bigger engines. In 1898 the company introduced a 3.3 litre engine and, in 1900, a monster 30 bhp, 5.8 litre engine was produced. There was, though, also a 3 hp machine which weighed only 350 kg.
Electric ignition was introduced around this time, as was a steering wheel in place of the tiller. In 1902, a factory was opened in Lille and the Peugeot range was expanded with a number of successful innovations, including honeycomb radiators and pressed steel frames. Siddeley in England began making Peugeots under licence.
In 1903, Robert Peugeot began making motorcycles in the old Beaulieu-Valentigney factory, adding cars to the line-up in 1906 under the name Lion-Peugeot.
The 1910 's
By 1912, Peugeot had entered racing once again - the French concern won the first ever motor race, albeit by default - and had new production models including a 10 hp machine designed by the legendary Ettore Bugatti.
Many of Ettore Bugattiís creations - including a number of Peugeots - can be seen at the impressive French National Automobile Museum, located in the south-east town of Mulhouse, close to both the German and Swiss borders. Worth a visit if you are in that part of the world.
The 1920 's
After the First World War, Peugeot developed a series of 3-cylinder engines and by 1923 had experimented with 2-stroke diesels. By 1922, a six cylinder, 6-litre, twin carburettor car had been introduced, and a 1.4 litre, 10 hp machine was also being developed.
The infamous 668cc Quadrilette was launched around this time, acquiring a 719 cc engine in 1926 and front brakes - previously, only rear-wheel brakes were fitted - in 1929. In 1927, a 950 cc engine was offered as an option. Also in 1927, Peugeot expanded with factories in other regions of France, when it acquired De Dion Bouton and Bellanger FrËres, the latter located at picturesque Neuilly-sur Seine.
More new models were introduced in 1928, including the two litre, six cylinder Type 183. A limited production 201X sports car was launched using a supercharged Bugatti engine.
The 1940 's
In 1935, Peugeot produced its last six cylinder engine, a statistic which was to stand until recent times when the V6 604 was introduced. During the Second World War, Peugeot made electric cars, known as the VLV. Capable of almost 50 km/h, the VLV was an original design with a two-seat cabriolet body.
After the war, Peugeot was one of the first European manufacturers to re-establish its production lines and, in 1946, the company sold more than 14,000 of its 202 model, introducing the 203 a year later.
The 1960 's
By 1955, the familiar 403 was launched, complete with synchromesh gearbox and a 1.5 litre engine. By 1962, over 1 million 403s had been built and in 1960 the Pininfarina-designed 404 made an appearance.
This model was tremendously successful, both in terms of sales and on the rally circuit, notably on the Safari Rally in East Africa.
The 403 was dropped at the end of 1966, while the 504 was launched in 1969. A rugged, no-nonsense saloon, the 504 featured an agricultural four cylinder engine, rear wheel drive and torque tube transmission - the propshaft ran inside a casing; to change the clutch, it was necessary to remove the engine, not the gearbox.
1965
Having become a holding company under the name Peugeot S.A., the make changes the logo: just the lion's head is retained on a triangular shield. Three years later the lion head is framed in a square, making a brand sign as it is today. The cars' radiator grills in the meantime continue to sport the heraldic lion.
1976
In 1976 a new structure, the PSA Peugeot-Citroen holding company, brings together the two makes, Peugeot and Citroen. The Group then purchased Chrysler Corporation. There were so many happenings to disturb the identity of the Peugeot brand. To reinforce its image, Peugeot has come back to its heraldic lion, with a refined design: it's the so-called 'Lion fil'. The best ambassador of this new, visual identity would be the 205, sold successfully since 1983.
1998
The visual identity of Peugeot changes again: the paws, added in the same scale, reinforce the power and balance of this feline; the blue, piercing eye symbolizes the long-term vision of the make. The lion is now complete and metallized to apply to the brand's values (sure, dynamic, esthetic), and is included in the design of its latest models.
2002
Now called the 'Blue Brand', the logo changes again to better reflect the Peugeot brand's ambitions. Still complete and metallized, it has had black added to the blue to show the lion's shadow. Balanced in shape and proportions, the logo and the car Brand are by now indivisible: unity creates strength.
Motorsports
In 1913 a Peugeot driven by Jules Goux won the Indianapolis 500. This car was powered by a Straight-4 engine designed by Ernest Henry, which had been successful in Grand Prix racing. The design was very influential for racing engines as it featured for the first time DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder providing for high engine speeds, a radical departure from previous racing engines which relied on huge displacement for power. When one of the Peugeot racers remained in the United States during World War I and parts could not be acquired from France for the 1914 season, owner Bob Burma had it serviced in the shop of Harry Arminius Miller by a young mechanic named Fred Offenhauser. Their familiarity with the Peugeot engine was the basis of the famed Miller racing engine, which later developed into the Offenhauser, or "Offy" racing engine.
The company has had much success in international rallying, notably with the durable Peugeot 504, the highly developed four-wheel-drive turbo-charged versions of the Peugeot 205, and more recently the Peugeot 206. The 206 rally car had a dramatic impact on the world rally championship, beating the Subaru Impreza, Ford Focus and Mitsubishi Lancer, cars which had traditionally dominated the sport. The 206 was retired practically unbeaten after several successful years, and replaced with the comparatively disappointing Peugeot 307 cc.
Throughout the mid-1990s, the Peugeot 406 saloon (called a sedan in some countries) contested touring car championships across the world, enjoying dominant success in France, Germany and Australia, yet failing to win a single race in the highly-regarded British Touring Car Championship despite a number of excellent podium finishes under the command of touring car legend Tim Harvey.
The British cars were prepared by Prodrive in 1996, when they sported a red livery, and by MSD in 1997-1998, when they wore a distinctive green and gold flame design. Initially the 406's lack of success was blamed on suspension problems, but it is now clear that the team was underfunded and the engine lacked power.
In 2001, Peugeot entered three 406 coupes into the British touring car championship to compete with the dominant Vauxhall Astra coupes. Unfortunately the 406 coupe was at the end of its product life-cycle and was not competitive, despite some flashes of form towards the end of the year, notably when Peugeot's Steve Soper led a race only to suffer engine failure in the last few laps. The 406 coupes were retired at the end of the year and replaced with the Peugeot 307 - again, uncompetitively - in 2002.
Until its withdrawal at the end of 2005, Peugeot entered the Peugeot 307 cc in the World Rally Championship. Peugeot won the grueling Paris Dakar Rally each year from 1987 to 1990.
In the 1990s the company competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, winning in 1992 and 1993 with the 905. It will be back in 2007, with the 908 powered by a diesel engine. Peugeot are also involved with the Courage C60 Le Mans racing team.
The company has also been involved in providing engines to Formula One teams, notably McLaren in 1994, Jordan for the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons, and Prost for the 1998, 1999 and 2000 seasons. Peugeot's F1 interests were sold to Asiatech at the end of the 2000 season.
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