Société des usines Chausson
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive components manufacturing |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Founder | Jules Chausson, Gaston Chausson |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Near Paris , France |
Area served | France |
| Products | Automotive components, bus bodies, steel automobile bodies |
Number of employees | 15,000 (at its height in the 1970s) |
Société des usines Chausson was a French industrial enterprise located near Paris from 1907 until 2000, mainly producing components for the automotive sector.
History
The company was established in 1907 by brothers Jules and Gaston Chausson under the name “Ateliers Chausson Frères.” Its initial focus was manufacturing metal parts for French automobile manufacturers, including radiators, cooling system elements, as well as components for fuel and exhaust systems in engines.
Chausson, initially specializing in heat exchanger production, diversified into steel automobile body manufacturing after the 1930s, inspired by developments in the United States. By 1940, the firm was fabricating parts for the Dewoitine D.520 fighter plane; however, plans to produce components for the D.521 model were interrupted by wartime occupation. In 1942, the foundation of ”Autocars Chausson” signaled a pivot towards bus body construction, leading to the delivery of numerous buses to RATP during the 1950s.
Following World War II, with significant investment from shareholders such as Peugeot and Renault, Chausson manufactured bodies for various light commercial vehicles like the Peugeot J7, Peugeot J9, Peugeot 404 pickup, and Citroën C35. On Renault’s side, products included the Renault 4 Fourgonette, Renault Estafette, and Renault Trafic. The company also produced limited series coupé bodies during the 1960s and 1970s for models such as the Renault Floride/Caravelle, Opel GT, and Citroën SM.
At its height in the 1970s, Chausson employed approximately 15,000 staff members across multiple plants located in Asnières-sur-Seine, Gennevilliers, Meudon, Reims, Creil, Maubeuge, and Laval, Mayenne. Over time, it merged with or acquired other automotive firms including Chenard et Walcker and Brissonneau and Lotz.
The company experienced decline during the 1990s amid industrial downturn and workforce reductions. In September 1993, Chausson entered creditor protection via a ”Dépôt de bilan”. Between 1993 and 1995, three ”Social Plans” led to a total workforce reduction of 2,549 employees.
Chausson’s last operational factory at Gennevilliers ceased activity in 2000.
Bibliography
- Danièle Linhart, Perte d'emploi, perte de soi, Érès, 2002.
- Bernard Massera et Daniel Grason, Chausson : une dignité ouvrière, Editions Syllepse, 2004.