Lion-Peugeot

Lion-Peugeot was a French automobile marque created in 1906 by Robert Peugeot and his brothers Pierre and Jules, who controlled the branch of the Peugeot family business that had remained focused on bicycles, tricycles, quadricycles and related products. The marque emerged from a family and corporate split that had divided Peugeot automobile production between two businesses. In 1896, Armand Peugeot separated from the older family enterprise, Les Fils de Peugeot Frères, to establish Automobiles Peugeot. The separation reflected disagreement over the scale of investment required for motor-car manufacturing. Armand’s company received the right to build Peugeot automobiles, while the residual business associated with Eugène Peugeot generally stayed out of powered cars, although it continued to make cycles and light motorized vehicles. By 1905, control of that residual enterprise had passed to Eugène’s sons. Relations between the two branches improved after Eugène became less active and after the younger generation took a more conciliatory approach toward Armand. An agreement allowed the residual business to manufacture automobiles independently, subject to an annual payment to Armand Peugeot. The resulting cars were sold under the Lion-Peugeot name, beginning with the Type VA in 1906. Production took place at Beaulieu near Valentigney in eastern France, an area closely associated with Peugeot manufacturing. Lion-Peugeot occupied a distinct position within the family’s automobile activities. Automobiles Peugeot concentrated much of its new-model effort on medium-sized and larger vehicles, while Lion-Peugeot supplied smaller cars and light automobiles. Several Lion-Peugeot models reportedly exceeded 1,000 units during the marque’s first decade, giving the business a meaningful presence in the emerging French small-car market. The marque operated alongside Automobiles Peugeot rather than simply functioning as a trim label within a single company. The two Peugeot automobile businesses formally merged in 1910 to create Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot. The integration of their model ranges took place progressively, however, and the Lion-Peugeot name continued to be used for smaller inherited models until 1916. Passenger-car demand collapsed during the First World War, and the plant producing Lion-Peugeot cars was closed in 1916. After the war, small cars were incorporated into the broader Peugeot range rather than being marketed as a separate Lion-Peugeot marque. Lion-Peugeot therefore represents a transitional chapter in Peugeot history: it was both a separately managed family automobile business and a bridge toward the reunification of Peugeot’s vehicle operations. It should not be confused with the modern Peugeot brand as a whole, although its products and organization became part of the historical foundation of that later unified business.

The history of Lion-Peugeot is rooted in a division within the Peugeot family business. Peugeot had entered the automobile field in the 1890s, after already establishing a substantial business in metal goods, domestic products and bicycles. The company’s first petrol car appeared in 1890, and public attention increased after Peugeot participated in the Paris–Brest–Paris cycle race in 1891. Automobile production, however, required investment and a strategic commitment that not all members of the family supported. In 1896, Armand Peugeot broke away from the older enterprise, Les Fils de Peugeot Frères, and founded Automobiles Peugeot. An agreement gave Armand’s company the exclusive right to manufacture Peugeot automobiles. The remaining business, associated with Eugène Peugeot, retained its established cycle activities and avoided conventional powered automobiles for a time, although it continued to produce bicycles, tricycles and quadricycles, including motorized versions. The balance changed after control of Eugène’s business passed to his sons Robert, Pierre and Jules. The younger men were less opposed to cooperation with Armand, whose automobile company had become successful. A new arrangement regularized the relationship between the two family branches. The residual business was permitted to build cars independently, in exchange for an annual payment to Armand Peugeot. These vehicles were introduced in 1906 under the Lion-Peugeot name, with the Type VA identified as the first model. Lion-Peugeot developed as a small-car specialist within the divided Peugeot system. Automobiles Peugeot continued to introduce medium and larger vehicles, while Lion-Peugeot built smaller cars suited to the expanding market for relatively accessible personal transportation. Its cars were produced at Beaulieu near Valentigney. The marque achieved several production runs of more than 1,000 units during its active period, indicating that it was more than a short-lived experimental label. The family relationship continued to improve, particularly after the death of Eugène Peugeot in 1907. Armand Peugeot had no surviving direct male heir, and the interests of the younger Peugeot generation increasingly favored reunification. In 1910, Automobiles Peugeot and Lion-Peugeot were merged into Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot. The corporate merger did not immediately erase the two product identities: the Lion-Peugeot name remained associated with smaller inherited models for several years as the ranges were gradually integrated. The First World War brought severe disruption to French passenger-car production. By 1916, demand for civilian cars had collapsed and the facility producing Lion-Peugeot vehicles was closed. The separate marque disappeared, and after the war Peugeot’s smaller cars were folded into the unified Peugeot range. The postwar environment was difficult, with France economically weakened and automobile production only gradually returning to profitability. Peugeot’s continuing bicycle business provided an important element of resilience during this period. Lion-Peugeot is consequently best understood as a historical Peugeot marque created by a separate branch of the family, not as a modern independent automaker. Its principal significance lies in its role in the development of Peugeot’s small-car offering and in the corporate reunification that created the basis for the later unified Peugeot automobile business.

• 1916

  Production site closes and the marque ends

  [1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  The wartime collapse in passenger-car demand led to closure of the Lion-Peugeot production plant and the discontinuation of the separate brand.

• 1910

  Formation of Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot

  [1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  The two Peugeot automobile businesses formally merged, although the Lion-Peugeot name remained in use for smaller models during a transition period.

• 1906

  Lion-Peugeot automobiles are introduced

  [1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  The independently produced Lion-Peugeot cars entered the market, beginning with the Type VA.

• 1905

  Control passes to Eugène Peugeot’s sons

  [1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  Robert, Pierre and Jules Peugeot assumed control of the branch of the family enterprise that had remained focused principally on cycles and related products.

• 1896

  Armand Peugeot establishes a separate automobile business

  [1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  Armand Peugeot separated from Les Fils de Peugeot Frères and founded Automobiles Peugeot, creating the family division that later led to Lion-Peugeot.

Early French small-car and light-automobile marque serving the lower end of the passenger-car market while the related Automobiles Peugeot business focused more heavily on medium and larger cars.

• Small passenger car · 1906

  Lion-Peugeot Type VA

  The Type VA was the first automobile sold under the Lion-Peugeot name after the Peugeot family agreement allowed the formerly separate branch to build cars. It marked the beginning of Lion-Peugeot’s role as the small-car-oriented counterpart to Automobiles Peugeot. Detailed technical specifications and production figures are not established by the supplied reference material.

• Small passenger cars

  Lion-Peugeot small-car range

  Lion-Peugeot produced a succession of small automobiles during the decade before and after the 1910 corporate merger. The range complemented Automobiles Peugeot’s medium and larger cars, and several models achieved production totals above 1,000 units. The supplied sources do not provide a complete model list or consistent specifications for the range.

• 1916

  End separate Lion-Peugeot productionStrategy

  Background

  First World War conditions caused passenger-car demand to collapse and disrupted civilian automobile manufacturing in France.

  Action taken

  The plant producing Lion-Peugeot vehicles was closed and the separate marque was discontinued.

  Aftermath

  After the war, small cars were integrated into the broader Peugeot range rather than marketed under the Lion-Peugeot name.

  Source

• 1910

  Merge Lion-Peugeot with Automobiles PeugeotM&A

  Background

  Improved relations between the two Peugeot family branches created the conditions for reunifying their automobile activities.

  Action taken

  The businesses were combined into Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot.

  Aftermath

  The model ranges were integrated progressively, and Lion-Peugeot continued as a name for smaller models until 1916.

  Source

• 1906

  Enter the automobile market under the Lion-Peugeot nameProduct launch

  Background

  A family agreement permitted Eugène Peugeot’s branch of the business to manufacture automobiles independently of Armand Peugeot’s Automobiles Peugeot.

  Action taken

  Robert, Pierre and Jules Peugeot introduced cars under the Lion-Peugeot name, beginning with the Type VA.

  Aftermath

  The marque developed a small-car position and continued operating even after the two Peugeot automobile businesses merged in 1910.

  Source

• 1916

  Lion-Peugeot marque is discontinued[1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  War-related economic conditions and the collapse of passenger-car demand led to the closure of the plant producing Lion-Peugeot cars and the end of the separate marque.

• 1910

  Peugeot automobile businesses merge[1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Lion-Peugeot and Automobiles Peugeot were formally combined into Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot, while the Lion-Peugeot name continued temporarily on smaller models.

• 1906

  Lion-Peugeot begins automobile production[1]Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The Peugeot family’s previously separate residual business began selling automobiles under the Lion-Peugeot name, starting with the Type VA.

1. 1Lion-Peugeoten.wikipedia.org