Diverge with me now onto Rue Eugène et Armand Peugeot. This street stands as a testament to two industrialists. They transformed Peugeot into a household name.
Rue Eugène et Armand Peugeot commemorates Eugène Peugeot and his cousin Armand. The Peugeot family’s story began long before automobiles. In the 15th century, they settled in Vandoncourt near Sochaux. They adapted through different eras.
Jean-Pierre Peugeot founded the industrial side of the family business. He built and ran water mills. His sons created factories with forges and foundries. They manufactured laminated steel. They patented a cold rolling process. Also they patented a coffee grinder with a wooden body and steel grinder. They even started making tools.
Jules and Émile Peugeot followed their father. Their company became ‘Peugeot Frères Aînés’. They developed new products. These included forks, hair clippers and grain grinders. The two brothers became known for social advancements. They initiated a ten-hour workday. They introduced social mutual insurance with free care and medicine. They established a pension fund for widows. They created a worker’s retirement fund and a hospital. The hospital in Valentigney offered free care to staff and their families. They started a savings bank and gymnastics clubs. They created food cooperatives and low-cost housing for workers.
Eugène Peugeot, born in 1844, studied at HEC. He became director of the Valentigney factories. These factories employed 600 workers. Armand Peugeot, born in 1849, studied at the École Centrale de Paris. He became director of the Hérimoncourt factories. These had 900 workers. Then he directed the Valentigney factories. He served as mayor of Hérimoncourt and Valentigney. He was a general councillor of the canton of Audincourt. He founded the newspaper ‘Le Pays de Montbéliard’.
The company began making tricycles and bicycles. Armand decided to motorize the tricycles. He displayed prototypes at the Paris Universal Exhibition. After a less successful attempt with a steam engine, he released his first automobile in 1891. It used an internal combustion engine. This marked the start of Peugeot automobiles. Armand wanted to develop automobile construction. Eugène was skeptical. He did not believe in the automobile’s future.
Armand Peugeot founded ‘Automobile Peugeot’ in April 1896. In 1887, he sold 54 automobiles. By 1900, he sold 500. Armand built a factory in Sochaux in 1912. By 1913, Peugeot produced 4,000 cars. Eugène continued making bicycles, motorcycles, and tricycles. He also produced tools and household items. Coffee grinders were a specialty. He operated under the name ‘Peugeot Frères’.
Eugène eventually entered the automobile market. He launched the ‘Lion Peugeot’ brand. Armand realized this rivalry was unproductive. He initiated a reconciliation with Eugène. This reconciliation was finalized after their deaths.
Eugène’s sons Pierre, Robert and Jules Peugeot took over. After the deaths of their uncle Armand and father Eugène, the three brothers merged into ‘Automobiles Peugeot’. In 1909, Robert Peugeot became head of the Peugeot group.
During World War I, Peugeot factories contributed to the war effort. They manufactured vehicles, engines, tanks and shells. After the war, Peugeot faced heavy debt. This led to the splitting of the ‘Société des automobiles et des cycles Peugeot’ in 1926. ‘Automobiles Peugeot’ and ‘Cycles Peugeot’ became separate companies.
Rue Eugène et Armand Peugeot stands as a reminder. It honors the Peugeot family’s impact. From mills to automobiles they shaped industry. Their legacy continues to drive innovation.