Introduction

The leading French car manufacturer, Peugeot is part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker in Europe. Over the years, Peugeot has gained success in international rallying, touring car and sports car racing. It also provided engines to Formula One teams. However, it had quit from racing after the 1902 Paris-Vienna rally where it was placed nineteenth. Peugeot returned to racing in 1912.

Peugeot’s journey started 200 years ago. The Peugeot family was earlier into coffee grinder and bicycle manufacturing. The first Peugeot lion was designed in 1848 by Emile Peugeot. However, the company’s first vehicle was produced in 1881.

In 1882, Emile’s son Armand introduced Le Grand Bi penny-farthing (bicycle with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel) and several other bicycle models.

The initial models of Peugeot cars were known by their Type numbers. Type 12 was created in 1895 when Peugeot became the first car manufacturer to incorporate solid rubber tires to a petrol-powered car.

The company started building its own engines from 1896. In the same year, Armand took a separate path and formed the Société Anonyme des Automobiles Peugeot.

Peugeot introduced a single cylinder Bébé (Baby) at the 1901 Paris Salon and became a style leader.

In 1903, the company started manufacturing motorcycles and also gained success in the car market in France. However, like most car companies, Peugeot forayed into arms and military vehicle production during the First World War.

In 1926, the car and bike companies parted ways and Cycles Peugeot was formed. Twenty four years later, Peugeot took over French automobile manufacturer Chenard-Walcker and also bought part of Hotchkiss.

From 1966, Peugeot worked with Renault. It collaborated with Volvo from 1972. Peugeot took over Citroën in 1975. To retain separate identities for both the brands, the joint company was called PSA (Peugeot Société Anonyme). After three years, PSA took over the European division of Chrysler and created a new brand called Talbot to sell the Chrysler/Simca range.