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HISTORY

HISTORY OF PEUGEOT

PEUGEOT HISTORY

With its major inventions and its myriad of successes, PEUGEOT has written some of the finest pages of automotive history. And with the new challenges for the 21st century, the PEUGEOT adventure continues.

 

1810

BEGINNING OF THE PEUGEOT INDUSTRIAL ADVENTURE

The family business was founded in 1810 by Jean-Frédéric and Jean-Pierre II Peugeot, during the transformation of the family hydraulic mill into a steel mill in a place called Sous-Cratet in the commune of Hérimoncourt (Doubs). Various branches of the family expanded into very diverse productions, but all were based on steel (tools, springs, umbrella ribs, corset frames, coffee mills, watch parts, bicycles, etc.).

1889

STEAM-DRIVEN 3-WHEELER REVEALED

Armand Peugeot showcased the first PEUGEOT-branded automotive vehicle at the World Fair in Paris: a steam-driven (non-commercialised) 3-wheeler designed with engineer Léon Serpollet.

1948

LAUNCH OF THE 203: THE FIRST UNIBODY CAR

The 203 was the first car produced after the Second World War. It was also the first unibody model with a hemispherical cylinder head and V-shaped valves, as well as the first PEUGEOT to be manufactured at over half a million units.

LAUNCH OF THE 404

The 404 was designed by Pininfarina. Its angular lines and increase in glazed surfaces brought in the modernisation and elegance that set it apart from the cars produced throughout the 1950s.

In 1961, the 404 was equipped with the first direct-injection engine.

 

1968

LAUNCH OF THE 404: RADICALLY INNOVATIVE STYLE AND EQUIPMENT

Named European Car of the Year in 1969, the 504 was PEUGEOT's longest-running model (3,700,000 units rolled out until 2006). Intended for a middle-class clientele, it also ranked highly in Africa and South America thanks to its endurance.

1972

LAUNCH OF THE 104: THE WORLD'S SHORTEST SALOON

The slogan "All of PEUGEOT in 3.58 m" drew attention to the fact that the 104 was the smallest four-door saloon in the world.

1979

LAUNCH OF THE 604:  PEUGEOT'S FIRST 6-CYLINDER SALOON SINCE THE 601

As a result of its style and stature, the 604 was adopted by the most senior government officials throughout Europe. The first commercial turbo diesel engine in Europe was also fitted in the 604.

1983

LAUNCH OF THE 205: THE "MAGIC NUMBER"

A lifesaving success for PEUGEOT. It was a two-time world rally champion and won the Paris-Dakar twice. It went on to become the best-selling car in France and the most exported French car ever.

1987

LAUNCH OF THE 405

For the second time in its history, PEUGEOT won European Car of the Year in 1988 with the 405, its new family car.

1997

LAUNCH OF THE 406 COUPÉ DESIGNED BY PININFARINA

Its timeless design made it a collector's dream, and it was the first coupé built with a diesel engine (2001).

1998

LAUNCH OF THE 206, WITH 7,326,029 UNITS PRODUCED

The 206 is a three-time world rally champion. Its CC version (2000) relaunched the convertible coupé, which was first introduced by PEUGEOT in 1934.

 

2016

LAUNCH OF THE 3008

Praised for its style, interior design and features, the new PEUGEOT 3008 was voted Car of the Year 2017 by a jury of 58 European journalists.

 

It was the first award-winning SUV since the creation of the award in 1964, and the fifth PEUGEOT to be named Car of the Year after the 308 in 2014, the 307 in 2002, the 405 in 1988 and the 504 in 1969.

 

2019

The PEUGEOT PARTNER was voted International Van Of The Year 2019, the fifth PEUGEOT to be awarded the title of Van Of The Year since the prize was created in 1992.

 

Two major innovations attracted attention: the overload indicator for safe loading and the Surround Rear Vision, which uses cameras to view blind spots.

 

The PEUGEOT PARTNER stood out because of its exclusive and world-first adoption within the segment of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, which offered a new driving experience for greater productivity.

 

The International Van Of The Year award was launched in 1992. The jury brings together a panel of 25 European journalists and publishers from independent magazines specialising in light commercial vehicles.

2020

The new PEUGEOT 208 was named Car of the Year 2020 by a panel of 60 expert automotive journalists from 23 European countries. The jury praised its range of engines, which offered customers the freedom to choose between electric, petrol and diesel. The panel also appreciated the bold design and the technology of the new PEUGEOT 208, the sixth PEUGEOT to be named Car of the Year.

 

With six titles, PEUGEOT was one of the top three brands with the most Car of the Year awards. This prestigious prize joined the twelve other international awards the PEUGEOT 208 had already received.

2021

The new face of PEUGEOT


The new 308, which bears the brand's new coat of arms, seduces with its sharp and sensual design, its advanced technology and its efficiency.

 

Its range of engines,  with two plug-in hybrids (180 or 225 hp), offers customers the power to choose between thermal or electric power options.