A comprehensive history of Peugeot

The French manufacturer is well-known for producing reliable and family-friendly vehicles — and has been for over 100 years. The family business was first set up in 1810 to create coffee mills, salt and pepper grinders and bicycles before applying for the lion trademark in 1858 and turning its attention to the automotive industry in 1889.

Here, alongside Motorparks who sell Peugeot cars in Manchester, we take a trip down memory lane and discover how Peugeot became one of the world’s biggest automotive manufacturers — as well as the second oldest.

The beginning

Starting in the early 1800s, Jean-Pierre Peugeot set up as an industrial manufacturer and is known as the founder of the company. His two sons, Jean-Pierre II and Jean-Frédéric, later founded ‘Peugeot Frères, transforming their father’s old grain mill into a steel foundry. Here, they produced an array of products, including coffee grinders, saws and bicycles. The change in the company’s projection is thought to have been severely influenced by the industrial revolution and by 1889 their first car design was unveiled.

This unveiling was thanks to Jean-Pierre’s grandson, Armand, and led the company into the motorised vehicle industry. Beginning with steam-powered products, Armand’s first model was the Serpollet-Peugeot, named after steam specialist Léon Serpollet who had collaborated in the invention. However, steam power wasn’t to last long and petrol-driven vehicles followed the next year in the form of the Type 2 quadricycle.

20^th Century success

Despite the First World War halting production, Peugeot managed to survive by becoming a major manufacturer of arms and military vehicles. After enduring some of the toughest of times, Peugeot first rolled the famous numbering system in 1929 as the company unveiled the 201 — the first mass-produced Peugeot car. It became the cheapest vehicle on the French market before being discontinued in 1937. 1932 saw the 301 enter production, while the 401 and 601 followed suit in 1934. Nowadays, we may be more likely to see the 208, 308 on so-on, but they are descendants of these original models.

Once more, global conflict threatened to destroy the company, but following the end of the Second World War, production restarted as the 202 was unveiled. The 203 followed in 1947 and set record sales.. As far as iconic cars go, Peugeot hit the jackpot in 1962 with their 404 Cabriolet — a car which is still a collector’s favourite!

By 1974 Peugeot merged with fellow French manufacturer Citroen, acquiring a 38.2% of the company. Two years later, this stake was upped to 89.95% and led to the PSA Peugeot Citroen Group being created. This allowed Peugeot to take over the European division of Chrysler in 1978.

In the 80s, 1983 to be precise, Peugeot released the 205 — a vehicle which marked the start of their huge success in the small car market. The 205 GTi was introduced a year later and, before being replaced by the 206 in 1998, there were over 6.5 models which had left the production line. 

Just before the turn of the millennium, the world was cottoning on to environmental issues. In 1999, it was noticed that the car industry had to make huge changes if it wasn’t to case further damage to our planet. In a world first, Peugeot released the 607, a car equipped with an HDi engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter which removed 99.9% of soot particles emitted by diesel engines. This design was rolled out into further models in the years to come.

Peugeot in the 2000s

In 2006, the manufacturer launched its 207 model. This went on to become Europe’s most sold car and the 208 which was launched in 2012 remains one of the best-selling cars on the market.

2010 saw the brand change its emblematic lion to reflect a new era. This design was created to be more simplistic and dynamic and to resemble a new sense of movement. The turn of the millennium has saw Peugeot continue to invent more technological ways to try to curb the CO2 emissions in its vehicles and reduce their fuel consumption. In 2012, the manufacturer created a Design Lab and they opened the innovative design studio up to external, non-automotive customers.  

They have a range of ultra-efficient engines, including PureTech petrol engines and BlueHDi diesel engines. It’s also seen the introduction of the brand’s first fully electric concept car, the EX1, before the first 100% electric Peugeot car, the iOn, arrived on the city scene.

Latest technology

Currently, the company is working on a pure blue air purification system — originally developed for their EXACT Concept car. It is used to treat the air before it enters the cabin so that any volatile organic compounds are eliminated. Their engineers have also created gearboxes that can maintain the car’s performance and efficiency while also respecting the environment.

Intelligent driver aids are also an important technological advance within the company. With new designs including the i-Cockpit and Hill Assist, the concepts have been designed with both passengers and drivers in mind.

 

As the company continues to look for ways to boost their brand and aid the environment, it’s clear that there is still a bright future ahead for the French manufacturer.