Lion-Peugeot
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Founder | Robert Peugeot and brothers |
| Defunct | 1916 |
| Fate | Merged into Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot |
| Headquarters | Beaulieu, near Valentigney , France |
Area served | France |
Key people | Robert Peugeot |
| Products | Automobiles, small cars |
| Parent | Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot (from 1910) |
Lion-Peugeot was a distinct French automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Robert Peugeot alongside his brothers, operating independently from the primary Peugeot company. Their vehicle production took place in Beaulieu, near Valentigney.
In 1910, the two entities, Automobiles Peugeot and Lion-Peugeot, united to establish the Société des Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot. Despite this merger, the Lion-Peugeot brand remained in use for smaller cars until 1916.
Background
The presence of two separate Peugeot automotive firms originated from a family division in 1896 when Armand Peugeot parted ways with the family enterprise then named Les Fils de Peugeot Frères. Armand and Eugène Peugeot, who were second cousins, had jointly managed the prosperous metalworking business focused on industrial tools and components. The company had introduced its first gasoline-powered vehicle in 1890 and gained prominence through events such as the Paris–Brest–Paris cycle marathon.
Shifting towards automobile manufacturing demanded substantial capital investment and a strategic pivot from their established bicycle production, which had been ongoing since 1882. Eugène was resistant to this level of financial commitment, leading Armand to establish Automobiles Peugeot as an independent venture in 1896. A formal agreement granted Armand exclusive rights to produce Peugeot-branded motor vehicles, while Eugène’s branch refrained from powered vehicle manufacturing.
Nevertheless, Eugène’s company continued producing bicycles, tricycles, and motorized quadricycles, resulting in a strained relationship with Armand.
Reconciliation
By 1905, control of Eugène’s remaining business had passed to his sons—Robert (1873–1945), Pierre (1871–1927), and Jules (1882–1957). Relations with their cousin Armand, whose Automobiles Peugeot was flourishing, improved considerably. They reached an agreement allowing Eugène’s firm to pay Armand an annual fee of one million francs in exchange for rights to manufacture cars independently under the "Lion-Peugeot" label, which debuted in 1906 with models such as the Lion-Peugeot Type VA.
During the following decade, Lion-Peugeot produced multiple small car models with sales surpassing 1,000 units each. While Peugeot-Automobiles concentrated on mid-size and larger automobiles—continuing successes like the Peugeot Bébé—Lion-Peugeot secured Peugeot’s foothold in the small car segment. This arrangement remained effective even after their official merger in 1910 until 1916 when wartime conditions halted passenger car production and led to discontinuation of the Lion-Peugeot brand.
The passing of Eugène in 1907 helped ease familial tensions and promoted reunification. Armand’s lack of a direct heir likely encouraged collaboration with his younger family members. Following the merger, integration proceeded gradually; by 1916, Lion-Peugeot’s factory closed amid declining demand. After World War I, smaller models were fully absorbed into Peugeot’s range. Despite economic hardships delaying profitable automobile manufacturing postwar, Peugeot sustained stability through its continued bicycle production.
Lion-Peugeot Cars
| Model | Production Years | Cylinder Count | Engine Displacement | Horsepower | Approximate Units Produced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type VA | 1906–1908 | 1 | 785 cc | 6½ hp | around 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type VC | 1906–1910 | 1 | 1,045 cc | 8½ hp | around 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type VC1 | 1906–1910 | 1 | 1,045 cc | 8½ hp | included with VC figures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type VC2 | 1909–1910 | 1 | 1,045 cc | 9 hp | approximately 1,175 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type VC3 | 1911 | 1 | 1,045 cc | 9 hp | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type VY | 1908–1909 | 1 | 1,841 cc | 12 hp | 142 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type VY2 | 1908–1909 | 1 | 1,841 cc | 12 hp | included with VY totals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sources and Additional References
- Notes
- Harald H. Linz and Halwart Schrader: Die große Automobil-Enzyklopädie, BLV, Munich 1986
- Wolfgang Schmarbeck: Alle Peugeot Automobile 1890–1990, Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1990