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The 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-Comte, 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. The products Saga: The industrial adventure began in 1810. The Peugeot family grain mill was transformed into a steel foundry. Around 1833 the business developed with the manufacture of hardware articles and expanded progressively: band saws, corset frames, springs, umbrella frames, coffee grinders, various tools, metal frames for crinolines, sewing machines etc. The first wheels: In 1882 the “Big Bi”, the first bicycle with unevenly sized wheels, appeared. The 1889 World Exhibition in Paris marked the debut of the adventure with the automobile, with the presentation of the first motorized vehicle: the steam-powered tricycle. Between 1890 and 1895 gasoline –powered quadricycles and then petrol ones were produced. The automobile made its first appearance, but at the time the bicycle was king. In 1891 Peugeot undertakes its first sporting event: the Peugeot “Type 3” quadricycle follows the Paris-Brest cycle race, covering 2,100 km in 139 hours! A new two-cylinder vehicle appeared in 1896. At the turn of the century Peugeot was already a major manufacturer: its catalog had 15 models, from 2 to 12 seats. Large-scale success: In 1900 automobile production was 500 units, and 20,000 bicycles. Launched in large-scale production in 1900, the first “Baby” was a single-cylinder light vehicle intended for the middle classes. In 1905 the famed drivers Goux and Boillot achieved an astonishing list of victories with the “Peugeot Lion”. It was then that Peugeot really threw itself into motor racing, the guarantee of popularity.In 1913 a new “Baby” came out, with a much more modern design. At that time, Peugeot was producing half of all French cars. 1919, at the end of the First World War, found the staff greatly reduced and widely dispersed. The tools of labor were sorely tested. Peugeot proved its dynamism by going to the USA to draw on methods for streamlining production, which allowed commencing mass production. In 1923 Peugeot’s annual production went over 10,000 units. 1929 marks the birth of the 201, the first car in the world with independent front wheels, and the first Peugeot with a three-digit name. The adventure continue... In 1948 Peugeot unveils the 203 at the Paris Auto Show. The 403, designed by Pininfarina, goes over one million units in 1955. The 404, also signed by Pininfarina, marked an important stylistic change for the make and Peugeot’s future. In 1961 it received the first French direct injection engine. In an unprecedented event, the 204 came along in 1965: the first car of the make to have front-wheel drive, four independent wheels and front disk brakes. It was equipped with a motor with a light-alloy overhead camshaft. 1968 : Peugeot displays the 504 at the Paris Auto Show, which would be elected Car of the Year in 1969. In 1976, Peugeot passed ten million vehicles. 1975 : the 604 is the first car in Europe to offer a turbo diesel engine. In 1983, a very special model appears on the scene: the 205. It was an enormous success, and 5.3 million were produced. The 405 follows in its footsteps and is elected Car of the Year in 1988. The thirty millionth car comes off the production lines in 1996. In the following six years another ten million Peugeots are put on the market. On sale since autumn 1998, over three million of the 206 have been produced. The 307, 607 and 807 ranges see the light of day. In 2002, over 1,950,000 vehicles are sold in more than 140 countries. The company Saga: The history of the Peugeot Brand precedes the arrival of the automobile. 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-Comte, 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-Frederic 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, “Societe 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 "Societe 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. 1960 until today 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. Historyof the Lion 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. 1910 Following the merger in 1910 of the cycle and automobile activities, the company “Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot” would just put the old PEUGEOT on its cars. On some models “unofficial” lions made their appearance: the Baudichon lion (1923) and the Marx lion (1925), named after their sculptors, are true works of art. One had to wait until 1933 for a more realistic lion to adorn the bonnets of models made at the plant. 1948 The heraldic lion made its appearance on the 203. It is rearing up on its hind legs, to adopt the familiar posture of the lion on the coat of arms of Franche-Comte, birthplace of the business. 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. |
