PSA Peugeot Citroën

Tuesday, 01 July 2008 08:08 Wikipedia

Citroën (pronounced See-Troh-Enn) is a French automobile manufacturer, founded in 1919 by André Citroën. Since 1976 it has been part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, and its headquarters is on rue Fructidor, Paris.

Originally a mass-market car maker with relatively straightforward designs, Citroën shocked the world in 1934 with the innovative Traction Avant, the world's first mass-production front wheel drive car (1934-56). Significant models include the H Van (1947-81, "HY"), the 2CV (1948-90, "The Duck"), the DS (1955-1975, "Goddess") and the CX (1974-91).

The Citroën logo is the 'double chevron', referencing Citroën's early work on the 'herringbone' or double helical gear, but there are other theories about this. Citroën, was Jewish and also an internationally well-known Freemason, attached to the Lodge of "La Philosophie Positive" in Paris. The logo may be interpreted as a masonic symbol - a double masonic square or a double masonic compass, associating the masonic ideology of Citroën with his invention of the double helical gear. In masonry, the compass is associated with the symbolism of the 'architect's tools', so it is possible that Citroën used a double compass to represent his invention, in a masonic way.

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PSA Peugeot Citroen

Tuesday, 01 July 2008 08:05 Wikipedia

PSA Peugeot Citroën (previously Peugeot Société Anonyme) is a French automobile and motorcycle manufacturer; these are sold under the Peugeot and Citroën marques. The PSA Peugeot Citroën is owned by Peugeot S.A. holding company.

In 1974 Peugeot S.A. acquired a 38.2% share of Citroën. In 1976 they increased their stake of the now bankrupt company to 89.95%, thus creating the PSA Group (where PSA is short for Peugeot Société Anonyme, later to be changed to PSA Peugeot Citroën). Since Citroën had two successful new designs in the market at this time (the GS and CX) and Peugeot was typically prudent in its own finances, the PSA venture was a financial success from 1976 to 1979. In 1979, PSA purchased the ageing assets of Chrysler Europe for USD $1 billion, leading to losses for the consortium from 1980 to 1985. During this period, PSA lost its traditional competitive footing in the executive car market and has never recovered.

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