Was it destiny or mere chance that led to the creation of Square Emile des Grées du Loû?
The Square Emile des Grées du Loû stands as a testament to a remarkable man. It honors Emile des Grées du Loû a figure whose life was intertwined with entrepreneurship. His story is one of innovation and resilience.
Emile des Grées du Loû was born in 1892. He was raised in a well-to-do family. World War I profoundly shaped his path. He became responsible for the maintenance of army trucks. This was a new logistical branch. His skills quickly garnered attention. He trained to become a reserve officer. There he met Henri Petit. Petit would later advise several automobile manufacturers.
After the war in 1919 Emile des Grées du Loû embraced a new challenge. He established a Citroën concession in Ostend. This marked his entry into the automotive world. His time in Ostend was significant on a personal level. He met Maria Josephine Mann. She came from a German family. She spoke Dutch French and German fluently. They married and she remained fond of Ostend.
In 1921 Emile joined Jules Miesse’s company. He became the commercial director. During this time Emile purchased his first car. He gifted it to his eldest nephew Jean-Pierre Mannerie. Simultaneously Emile ran his own car accessory business. It was called “Des Grées & Co”. It was located in Schaerbeek.
Later Emile and Maria considered buying a manor in Oisquercq. They acquired it in 1933. They lived there until 1957. The government expropriated their property then.
In 1935 Emile disagreed with Miesse about production. Miesse wanted to consolidate production in Tirlemont. Emile advocated for caution. He wanted to keep some production in Buizingen. He resigned and started his own venture.
Emile dreamt of representing a car brand. He reconnected with Joannis Saracakis. They had met during the war in Thessaloniki. Saracakis’ family became Volvo’s Greek importer.
In 1936 Emile met with Mr Berthelsson. Berthelsson was a key figure at Volvo. This meeting led to an agreement. Emile would represent Volvo in Belgium and Luxembourg. He founded “Société Belge de Matériel Automobile” or SBMA with his wife and Henry Vanderheyden.
Initially SBMA focused on trucks. They soon hoped the PV-51 family car would succeed. However Volvo was not yet well-known in Belgium. Success was limited.
When war broke out in 1939 Volvo sales in Belgium stopped. Sweden wanted to preserve its neutrality. Emile sought other ventures. He invested in gas producers for vehicles. He became the exclusive distributor for Gohin-Poulenc gas producers in Brabant. During the summer of 1942 Emile participated in an exhibition. It showcased alternative fuels at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.
From 1943 SBMA also built trailers and tippers. Contacts with Volvo headquarters continued. Emile learned about Volvo’s plan to produce a “people’s car”. He and Jean Mannerie pre-sold these cars. They secured hundreds of orders. This strategy proved successful after the war. Emile traveled to Gothenburg with many orders.
The turning point for Volvo and SBMA came with the PV-444. It was Volvo’s small model. In November 1950 SBMA opened a showroom in Brussels. Gustaf Larson attended the opening.
This square stands as a tribute. It recognizes Emile des Grées du Loû’s entrepreneurial spirit. He navigated challenges and seized opportunities. The Square Emile des Grées du Loû is a reminder of his enduring legacy.