René Panhard
Louis François René Panhard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Paris, France |
| Died | July 16, 1908 (aged 67) La Bourboule, France |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, businessman |
| Known for | Co-founder of Panhard & Levassor, automotive pioneer |
Louis François René Panhard (27 May 1841 – 16 July 1908) was a notable French engineer, businessman, and a trailblazer in France's automotive sector.
Hailing from Paris, he pursued engineering studies at Collège Sainte-Barbe before earning his degree from École Centrale Paris in 1864. Subsequently, he joined Jean-Louis Périn’s company specializing in woodworking machinery, where he encountered Émile Levassor. In recognition of his achievements, Panhard was appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1878.
Following the passing of Périn in 1889, Panhard collaborated with Levassor and Edouard Sarazin—later working with Sarazin’s widow, Louise—to secure French manufacturing rights for Gottlieb Daimler’s internal combustion engine. This partnership led to the establishment of the Panhard & Levassor automobile firm located on Avenue d'Ivry in Paris. The company introduced its inaugural automobile in 1890.
By 1891, Panhard and Levassor engineered the pioneering Daimler twin V engine. Their vehicles achieved significant victories in early prestigious competitions such as the Paris-Rouen (1894), Paris-Bordeaux-Paris (1895), and the Tour de France Automobile (1899), maintaining dominance in racing up to 1900.
After Levassor's fatal accident during a race in 1897, Panhard proceeded with automotive innovations alongside his son Hippolytus, broadening their portfolio to include luxury automobiles by the turn of the century.
In 1904, Panhard was honored with a grand prize at the St. Louis Exposition. Additionally, he held the position of mayor in Thiais, Val-de-Marne. A street in Paris’s 13th arrondissement commemorates his legacy.
René Panhard passed away in 1908 at La Bourboule and was interred at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.