THE HISTORY OF PEUGEOT

The Peugeot family established a solid financial basis since the early 19th century by producing various industrial products, including bicycle. In 1890, just 4 years after Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler’s invention of motor car, Armand Peugeot produced his first 4-wheel motor vehicle based on his quadricycle. It was powered by Daimler’s engine. A few more models were developed before the establishment of "Société des Automobiles Peugeot" in 1896, the company we simply refer to "Peugeot" today.

Next year, Peugeot also made its own engine. The following years saw some industry first :pneumatic tyre (by Michelin), steering wheel and transmission shaft with universal joint (instead of chain). Another stunning design is the Grand Prix car in 1912, which used hemi-spherical combustion chamber with cross-flow head and 4-valves per cylinder driven by twin overhead camshafts. Wow, today this still sounds sophisticated.

However, in the following decades Peugeot did not create any car as stunning. Without a car like Beetle, Mini, 2CV etc., Peugeot still grew steadily. The 201, which started the naming rule to be followed until today, reached a total run of 140,000 units in 7 years since 1929.

After World War II, Peugeot continued growing. In 1965, the company underwent massive expansion, becoming Peugeot S.A. (PSA), a holding company controlling all the group's different companies. PSA absorbed the bankrupted Citroen in 1976 and the falling European Chrysler-Simca in 1978. The group replaced the latter by launching a new marque, Talbot, which just survived until 1986.

The product remained low profile until the arrival of 205 hatchback in 1983, which not only setting a sales record for the group but also thrilled the world with the 205 GTI.