peugeot

A brief history about peugeot: Peugeot is one of the oldest and most enduring names in the automotive world, though its beginnings were far from the car industry. The Peugeot family business dates back to the 18th century and originally specialized in producing steel goods such as tools, kitchen equipment, and coffee grinders. By the mid-1800s, the company had expanded into new products—crinoline dress supports, umbrella frames, and bicycle spokes. This natural progression into mobility eventually led to bicycle manufacturing, setting the foundation for Peugeot’s move into the automotive sector at the dawn of the 20th century.

Armand Peugeot was the first family member to see the potential of the automobile. After meeting with Gottlieb Daimler, he became convinced that personal motorized transport would shape the future. In 1889, Peugeot introduced its first car, a three-wheeled steam-powered model, followed by a four-wheel, petrol-powered version the next year that used a Daimler-licensed engine. Peugeot quickly began to innovate, introducing features such as sliding-gear transmissions, three-point suspension, and rubber-tire wheels. The brand’s early Type 12 models were among the first cars ever to compete in organized races, including the historic Paris–Rouen race of 1894.

In 1896, Peugeot began producing its own engines, establishing the Société Anonyme des Automobiles Peugeot in Adincourt and marking the company’s independence from the family’s other industrial ventures. By 1899, Peugeot was already selling 300 vehicles per year, a significant share of the total French market. The company also diversified into motorcycles in 1903, a tradition that continues under the Peugeot Motocycles brand today.

Peugeot’s engineering excellence soon translated into racing success. In 1913, Jules Goux drove a Peugeot to victory in the Indianapolis 500, making history as the first European driver to win the event. The car’s innovative dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine with four valves per cylinder became a major influence on race-car design. With the onset of World War I, Peugeot shifted production to military vehicles and armaments but returned to car manufacturing in the 1920s, releasing the 201 model in 1929—the first Peugeot to adopt the now-famous three-digit naming convention with a zero in the middle.

Through the 1930s, Peugeot continued to experiment with design and technology. In 1933, the company introduced a model with a retractable hardtop, one of the earliest examples of such a feature in the industry. However, World War II interrupted production once again, with the company’s factories commandeered by German forces. By the war’s end, Peugeot’s facilities were heavily damaged, but reconstruction began quickly, and production resumed in 1948 with the release of the Peugeot 203, a stylish and robust postwar model that helped revive the brand.

In the following decades, Peugeot partnered with legendary Italian designer Pininfarina, resulting in timeless models such as the 403, 404, and 504. The brand expanded into the U.S. market in 1958 and formed collaborations with Renault in 1966 and Volvo in 1972 to share development costs and engineering innovations. By the 1970s, Peugeot sought greater stability and market share, acquiring a 30 percent stake in Citroën in 1974 and taking full control two years later, forming the PSA Group (Peugeot Société Anonyme).

In 1978, Peugeot expanded again by acquiring Chrysler’s European operations, which included the Simca brand. These vehicles were briefly sold under the Talbot name, though outdated equipment and weak sales led to production cuts by the mid-1980s. The Peugeot 309, launched in 1986, was one of the few successful survivors of this period.

During the 1990s, Peugeot regained its footing with improved designs and a stronger focus on refinement. The company earned new recognition in motorsport, winning multiple World Rally Championships and returning to endurance racing with notable victories at Le Mans. Peugeot’s reputation for durability and design innovation strengthened through models like the 206, 306, and 406, which became household names in Europe.

In recent years, Peugeot has diversified beyond its classic 200, 300, 400, and 600 series to include both smaller urban cars, like the 100 range, and high-end executive models, like the 900 series. The company has also invested heavily in hybrid and electric technology, introducing eco-efficient versions of popular models such as the 307 and 3008. From coffee grinders to championship-winning race cars, Peugeot’s story is one of constant reinvention, blending engineering precision with French creativity for more than a century.

Current Models

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