Citroen

Citroën is a French automobile manufacturer, started in 1919 by André Citroën, today part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. Its headquarters are located in Paris, rue Fructidor. more...

Originally a mass-market car maker with relatively straightforward designs, Citroën shocked the world in 1934 with the innovative Traction Avant (front wheel drive) (1934-1956). Until the late 1980s the company had a reputation for approaching auto design in a unique way. Later significant models include the H Van (1947-1981, "HY"), 2CV (1948-1990, "The Duck"), DS (1955-1975, "Goddess") and CX (1974-1991).

History

The story of Citroën begins with the founder of the company himself, the engineer André Citroën. He built armaments for France during World War I - after the war he had a factory and no product. In 1919, the business started to produce automobiles, beginning with the conventional type A model.

The symbol for this firm, still used today, is the "double chevron" trademark, referencing Citroën's early work the "herringbone" or double helical gear.

André Citroën was a keen marketer - he used the Eiffel Tower as the world's largest advertising sign, per the Guinness book of World Records. He also sponsored expeditions in Asia (Croisière Jaune) and Africa (Croisière Noire), intended to demonstrate the potential for motor vehicles equiped with Kegresse track system to cross inhospitable regions. The expeditions conveyed scientists and journalists and were a publicity success.

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