History
HISTORY OF THE PEUGEOT FAMILY
Flagship of French industry, Peugeot is one of the foremost pioneers on the international automotive front. In just over 2 centuries, the brand’s activities have developed around its passion and technological challenges.
1810
Family grain mill transformed into a steel foundry
Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot diversify their activity by manufacturing steel strips for dressmaking, saws and springs for watchmaking.
1891
Series-produced type 3 rolled out
The type 3 is the first series-manufactured car in the world (64 examples) travelling from Valentigney-Paris then following the first Paris-Brest-Paris bike race for 2,045 km. In January 1893, the Peugeot type 3 is the first car to be driven in Italy.
1896
Traditional and automobile manufacturing separated
The sons of Peugeot Frères continue with traditional manufacturing (bikes, tooling, etc.) whilst Armand Peugeot creates Automobiles Peugeot, a limited liability company (Société Anonyme).
1897
First automotive plant built in Audincourt (Doubs)
Workshops are abandoned and the company sets up in the first totally automotive-dedicated plant, in Audincourt (25). A second plant is operational in Lille (59) in 1898.
1905
Lion Peugeot cars showcased
The sons of Peugeot Frères also invest in automotive manufacturies under the brand-name Lion Peugeot and produce a different range of the automotive Peugeot’s one in order to avoid competition.
1910
Manufacturing merged
The sons of Peugeot Frères and Armand Peugeot merge and create the Automobiles and Cycles Peugeot, a limited liability company (Société Anonyme). Vehicles are now all manufactured by a single entity.
1912
Sochaux plant established
In 1929, it would group together all Automotive Peugeot manufacturies and would become the largest industrial site in France.
In 2012, it celebrates its centennial, making it the oldest car manufacturing plant still in activity in the world today.
1965
Birth of PSA
“PSA” (Peugeot Société Anonyme) is founded to become a holding of the automotive group of the same name which controls all of the Peugeot Group’s companies.
In 1976, it becomes PSA Peugeot Citroën through the merger of Citroën S.A. and Peugeot S.A.
“PSA Peugeot Citroën” becomes the “PSA Group” in 2016 and symbolises the dynamism of its 3 strong car brands, Peugeot, Citroën and DS, as well as all other current and future Group activities.
1982
Creation of “L’Aventure Peugeot”
Pierre Peugeot founds “© L’Aventure Peugeot”, an association under the law of 1901, whose mission is to preserve the heritage of Peugeot brands.
The “Aventure Peugeot” Museum in Sochaux welcomes between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors each year since its opening in 1988.
In 2015, “L’Aventure Peugeot” becomes “L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS” and groups together all collections of PSA Group Brands.
2010
Peugeot celebrates its bicentennial
Among the international automotive pioneers still operating, Peugeot is one of the few where founders’ descendants are still shareholders and hold managerial positions.
