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History of The Citroën Marquee
1913-1916 André Citroën creates the Société des Engrenages Citroën on the Quai de Grenelle in Paris. The chevron shape of its gear teeth becomes the marquee's symbol.
1912 André Citroën visits Henry Ford's plants in the USA and discovers new principles for organizing production.
1916 Citroën begins preparations to convert the Quai de Javel armament plant for vehicle production.
1919 Launch of the Type A, the first car produced by Citroën and the first mass-produced automobile in Europe. Medical departments, cooperatives, day nurseries and dentist offices are set up in the Citroën plants.
1921 Stocks of spare parts are created throughout France. The B2 replaces the Type A, and close to 90,000 units are built through 1926.Three versions of the half-track vehicles (variations of the Type A and B2) are launched: snow, raid and four-wheel drive.
1922 In a road-sign upgrading operation, Citroën provides France with 150,000 panels bearing the company's symbol. The Torpedo 5CV Trèfle and half-track vehicles are built at the newly commissioned Levallois plant. The Type C 5CV is presented at the Paris Auto Show, and nearly 81,000 units are produced through 1926.
1923 Miniature automobiles are produced for advertising purposes. Over two million of these toys are sold through 1933. The Saint-Charles plant in Paris is created for gear box machining and assembly.
1924 Société Anonyme André Citroën is created with a capital of 100 million francs. Sales subsidiaries are opened in Brussels, Milan, Amsterdam, Cologne and other cities. Citroën creates an intercity bus transportation network.
1925 The French sales network is expanded, increasing from 200 representatives in 1919 to 5,000 in 1925. Europe's first forges begin operating at Clichy. The all-steel-body B12 is launched.
1926 The B14 and B15 utility vehicles with closed cabins are launched. Production is Tailored. Operations begin at the Grenelle plant, while other plants open elsewhere in Europe (Brussels-Forest, Slough, etc.).
1927-1928 The C4 is launched. A total of 140,000 are produced through 1930.
1929-1933 Citroën becomes synonymous with adventure and reliability because of its Cruises: the Black Cruise, a distance of 20,000 kilometers between Colomb-Béchar and Tananarive, and the Yellow Cruise, in which 14 half-track vehicles make the 12,000-kilometer trip between Beirut and Beijing.
1934 The 7A is rolled out. This is the first in the line of Traction Avant vehicles featuring an aerodynamic body, all-steel self-supporting uni-body construction with no running-board, independent front and rear wheels, front-wheel drive and hydraulic brakes. This revolutionary new model did not, however, shield the company against serious financial problems. Michelin became its main shareholder, wiped off the company's debt and matched production to orders. At total of 10,000 jobs were eliminated and vehicle prices came down. From 1935 to 1937, production surged from 40,000 to 61,000 vehicles.
1935 André Citroën, the man who had revolutionized the French automobile industry and invented modern advertising, dies on July 3.
1939-1945 The Quai de Javel plant is bombed, and production drops to just a few thousand units.
1948 The 2CV is launched. It remains in production until 1990, with over 30 versions and close to 3.9 million units produced. The Type H vehicle is launched and production continues for more than 30 years. More than 490,000 units of what is known in France as Le Tube are produced.
1950 The SCEMM subsidiary begins operations, manufacturing production equipment. Delivery of a 2CV can take up to six years!
1953 An agreement is signed with Panhard to partially merge the two sales networks. The Rennes-la-Barre-Thomas plant in Brittany goes into operation. It specializes in ball bearings and thermoplastic elastomer components.
1954 The 15-Six represents a technical revolution, with its constant-height, hydro pneumatic suspension. Operations begin in the hydraulic shops of the Asnièères plant.
1955 The DS19 is launched. The car, designed by Bertoni, is revolutionary for its aerodynamic lines, hydro pneumatic suspension and power-driven systems. More than 1.4 million units of the DS are produced in almost 20 years.
1958 The Vigo plant in Spain goes into production, turning out 2CV vans.
1961 Operations begin at the Rennes-la-Janais plant. This is the first Citroën facility to produce bodies and assemble cars. The Ami 6 is launched. Over 1 million units are produced through 1971.
1963-1964 Purchased from Acieries de Pompey, the Caen plant will be manufacturing and assembling the chassis and suspension systems. The Competitions Department is created. The Mangualde plant in Portugal comes on stream to manufacture the 2CV. The Ami 6 station wagon is launched.
1965 Citroën takes over Panhard. The DS 21 is introduced.
1967 Citroën signs an industrial cooperation agreement with Berliet and acquires a majority interest in the company. The Dyane is launched; 1.4 million units are produced through 1983.
1968 Following a reorganization, Citroën SA becomes the parent company of the Citroën Berliet Panhard group, with over 20 subsidiaries. Citroën signs agreements with Maserati and Fiat on developing joint projects in such areas as research and investments. The Méhari four-wheel drive vehicle is launched; 115,000 are produced through 1987.
1969 The Citer car-rental organization is created. The Ami 6 is replaced by the Ami 8, of which 800,000 units are produced through 1979.
1970 The GS is launched at the Paris Auto Show and the SM is unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show.
1971 Sogamm, a Citroën's subsidiary, is set up in Stains to produce prototypes of mechanical and body components. Five hundred 2CVs and 1,300 young drivers take part in the Paris-Persepolis-Paris rally. The GS is elected Car of the Year.
1972 The Grenelle plant is closed and its production is transferred to Caen. The electronic-injection SM replaces the carburetor version.
1973 The Aulnay plant comes on stream to replace the Javel plant, which is closed in 1974 after turning out 3.2 million vehicles, from the Type A to the DS. The sophisticated equipment at Aulnay makes it one of the most modern plants in Europe. The agreements between Fiat and Citroën are terminated. Fiat transfers its 49% interest to Michelin. Citroën organizes the Africa Raid: 100 teams cover 8,000 km between Abidjan and Tunis.
1974 The CX is launched to replace the DS, and the C35 utility vehicle designed with Fiat goes on the market. Peugeot SA buys 38.2% of the shares from Citroën SA. Each marquee retains its product range and sales network. Peugeot becomes responsible for managing the combined activities, in particular their joint research, purchasing and investments departments.
1975 The CX is elected Car of the Year.
1976 The LN sedan is launched. More than 127,900 units of the car, which combines Citroën mechanical components with the body of the Peugeot 104 coupe, are produced through 1978. Citroën SA and Peugeot SA merge, and the holding company PSA Peugeot Citroën is created. It has two automobile manufacturing subsidiaries: Automobiles Peugeot and Automobiles Citroën.
Compiled and Authored by
PEUGEOT PETE
peugpete@aol.com
Pedigreed Junk Yard Dog
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