Peugeot

Steel and tool manufacturer Peugeot was founded in 1805 before trying its hand at car manufacture from 1889. In 1912, Peugeot had pioneered with its L76 racing model, with four camshafts and four valves per cylinder.

In 1929, Peugeot launched the 201, its first model with a zero in the centre of the name, beginning a tradition that lasts to this day. The 201 subsequently became the first car with independent front suspension, in 1931. In 1934, Peugeot produced a coupé–cabriolet with a folding hardtop, while the 402 was one of the first production cars with an aerodynamically designed body in 1935.

Postwar, with its factories severely damaged, Peugeot designed the 203 model in 1946, but could not put it into production till 1948, due to a materials’ shortage. In 1955, the Peugeot 403 was launched, with a body styled by Pinin Farina, beginning a long partnership with the Italian house. In 1968, Peugeot launched the 504, a car that would remain in production under licence till 2005.

In 1974, Peugeot took a holding in Citroën before taking it over completely in 1975 (selling Citroën’s Maserati unit that year), and in 1978, it acquired the assets of Chrysler Europe, rebranding its products Talbot. However, Talbot passenger cars were made only till 1986, with the range replaced by Peugeots.

Peugeot continued innovating: it was the first to sell a turbodiesel in 1979 (the 604) and it put electric cars on the market in the 1990s.

The company made its first forays into Red China in the 1980s, with 504 and 505 models built in Guangzhou from 1985 to 1997. While not a financial success, Peugeot learned enough about the Chinese market and has subsequently become one of its mainstays through Dongfeng Peugeot–Citroën Automobile from the 1990s.

By 2008, the company had made 50 million vehicles.

• Peugeot 104
• Peugeot 106
• Peugeot 107
• Peugeot 1007
• Peugeot 201
• Peugeot 202
• Peugeot 203
• Peugeot 204
• Peugeot 205
• Peugeot 206
• Peugeot 207
• Peugeot 208
• Peugeot 2008
• Peugeot 301
• Peugeot 304
• Peugeot 305
• Peugeot 306
• Peugeot 307
• Peugeot 308
• Peugeot 3008
• Peugeot 309
• Peugeot RCZ
• Peugeot 403
• Peugeot 404
• Peugeot Roa
• Peugeot 405
• Peugeot Pars
• Peugeot 406
• Peugeot 407
• Peugeot 408
• Peugeot 4007
• Peugeot 4008
• Peugeot 5008
• Peugeot 504
• Peugeot 505
• Peugeot 508
• Peugeot 604
• Peugeot 605
• Peugeot 807