Hurtu
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Bicycles, Sewing machines |
| Predecessor | Hurtu, Hautin et Diligeon |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Founder | E. Diligeon (sole owner from 1895) |
| Defunct | 1930 |
| Fate | Ceased automobile production, refocused on machinery |
| Headquarters | Albert , France |
Area served | France |
| Products | Automobiles, Bicycles, Sewing machines |
Hurtu represented an early French automobile marque produced by Diligeon et Cie in Albert, Somme from 1896 until 1930. In addition to cars, the enterprise also manufactured bicycles and sewing machines.
The company originated in 1880 under the name Hurtu, Hautin et Diligeon, initially specializing in sewing machine production before diversifying into machine tools and bicycles. In 1895, E. Diligeon took full ownership, renaming the business Diligeon et Cie while continuing to use the Hurtu brand for its products. The inaugural automobile, launched in 1896, was a licensed copy of the Léon Bollée tricar and notably surpassed Léon Bollée’s own sales figures. The following year, four-wheeled vehicles were introduced, closely modeled on the German Benz design, which was also manufactured in England by Belsize Motors.
By 1899, the firm restructured as the Compagnie des Automobiles et Cycles Hurtu. In 1900, it replaced the Benz-inspired model with a new car powered by a De Dion-Bouton 3.5 hp single-cylinder engine featuring shaft drive and available with either two- or four-seat open bodywork.
Starting in 1907, Hurtu incorporated a dashboard-mounted radiator design influenced by Renault, a styling choice it retained through 1920.
Annual production reached around 600 vehicles by 1913, including four-cylinder models with engine capacities of 1692cc and 2120cc that integrated the gearbox and engine into a single unit.
After World War I, Hurtu recommenced automobile manufacturing with a conventional front-radiator four-cylinder model of 2358cc introduced in 1920; front-wheel brakes were added beginning in 1922. In 1925, a smaller model with a 1328cc engine was added to the range. Manufacturing ended in 1930 as the company redirected its efforts back toward machinery production.