Hotchkiss et Cie
| Industry | Firearms, automobiles, military vehicles |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1867 in Viviez, France |
| Founder | Benjamin B. Hotchkiss |
| Defunct | early 1970s (brand disappeared) |
| Fate | Absorbed into Thomson-Houston (Thales Group) |
| Successor | Thomson-CSF (Thales Group) |
| Headquarters | Saint-Denis , France |
Area served | France, international |
Key people | J. A. Grégoire (designer after 1937 merger with Amilcar) |
| Products | Firearms, machine guns, automobiles, tanks, military vehicles, trucks, licensed Jeeps |
Number of employees | ~400 (circa 1900) (1900) |
| Parent | Thomson-Houston (after 1966) |
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Compagnie was a French manufacturer initially specializing in firearms and later expanding into automobiles, founded by the American gunsmith Benjamin B. Hotchkiss. In 1867, he set up a production facility in Viviez, near Rodez, where the company manufactured weapons utilized by France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The factory was subsequently moved to Saint-Denis, close to Paris, in 1875. Eventually, the firm became part of Thomson-CSF, now known as Thales Group.
Arms
Hotchkiss developed the Hotchkiss revolving cannon, which had five barrels capable of firing 43 rounds per minute at targets up to one mile away. This weapon was produced in calibers ranging from 37 mm to 57 mm and was primarily intended for naval deployment. Around the turn of the 20th century, Hotchkiss introduced a gas-operated machine gun that gained a reputation for reliability and saw extensive service with the French Army during and following World War I.
Cars
At the time of the 1900 International Universal Exhibition, Hotchkiss’s factory in Saint Denis employed around 400 workers and operated 600 machine tools. The company released its inaugural automobile in 1903—a four-cylinder model rated at 17 CV—adorned with a badge featuring crossed cannons as a nod to its firearms heritage.
Following a factory fire that posed a significant challenge to production, Hotchkiss launched a six-cylinder vehicle in 1906. Throughout World War I, the company focused on mass-producing machine guns, tank components, and other military equipment. In 1933, it introduced the Hotchkiss H35 tank.
A British initiative to manufacture Hotchkiss automobiles in 1920 resulted only in a prototype without further production. The brand earned notable victories at the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo in multiple years: 1932, 1933, 1934, 1939, 1949, and 1950.
Between World Wars I and II, the Hotchkiss 680—a six-cylinder engine with a three-litre capacity—stood out as an important model. In 1937, Hotchkiss merged with Amilcar, bringing on board designer J. A. Grégoire. After World War II, production continued with the updated 680 and a new four-cylinder car rated at 13 CV. Starting from 1947, two-litre flat-four models were commonly referred to as Hotchkiss-Grégoire.
In 1954, Hotchkiss acquired French manufacturer Delahaye, which marked the end of its passenger car production; however, it briefly produced trucks under the Hotchkiss-Delahaye name before discontinuing Delahaye branding altogether. Subsequently, Hotchkiss manufactured licensed versions of Jeeps originally from Willys.
In 1956, Hotchkiss merged with arms manufacturer Brandt, continuing jeep production for the French military until 1966. That year, it was absorbed into Thomson-Houston, ceasing vehicle manufacturing by 1970. The Hotchkiss brand disappeared during the early 1970s as part of this larger industrial group, which was nationalized in 1982 to become Thomson SA.
Tanks
The Char léger modèle 1935 H, commonly known as the Hotchkiss H35, was a light tank developed by Hotchkiss during the mid-1930s. Designed in 1933 and entering service by 1936, roughly 1,200 units had been produced by June 1940. This tank remained operational with several nations until as late as 1952. Unlike many tanks of its era that used riveted rolled homogeneous armor plates, the H35 featured almost entirely cast armor plates, providing enhanced resilience against high-explosive shells. Serving as a successor to the Renault FT model, it functioned as a lightly armored and maneuverable cavalry tank that supported infantry operations. Its armor protection was impressive for its time and proved effective against German Panzer II tanks during the Battle of France; it was largely impervious to frontal attacks but vulnerable to heavier Panzer III and IV models. Due to its relatively weak main gun, numerous H35 tanks were upgraded to the Hotchkiss H39 standard, which incorporated a more powerful 37mm cannon, an improved engine, and reinforced turret armor. Several captured units were repurposed by Nazi Germany into Panzerjäger assault guns known as Marder I variants.
Hotchkiss drive
The term Hotchkiss also denotes a drivetrain configuration where engine torque is conveyed to the rear axle differential through a driveshaft. This system employs leaf springs to both position the axle and transfer driving forces.