Citroën
Company History
Citroën History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1919 in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France
When was Citroën founded?
Citroën was founded in 1919 in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France by André Citroën, making it 107 years old.
- Founded
- 1919
- Founding place
- Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France
- Founders
- André Citroën
- Headquarters today
- Poissy, Île-de-France, France
- Milestones documented
- 11 (1919–2026)
- Current CEO
- Xavier Chardon
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Automobiles Citroën Founded by André Citroën in Paris |
| 1934 | Launch of the Revolutionary Citroën Traction Avant |
| 1948 | Unveiling of the Iconic Citroën 2CV People's Car |
| 1955 | Debut of the Legendary Hydropneumatic Citroën DS |
| 1976 | Formation of PSA Peugeot Citroën Group |
| 2020 | Launch of the Citroën Ami Electric Quadricycle |
| 2021 | Part of Stellantis |
| 2023 | Thierry Koskas becomes CEO |
| 2024 | Launch of the Sub-€25k Citroën ë-C3 |
| 2025 | Xavier Chardon Named CEO; Formula E Entry Announced |
| 2026 | H1 2026 Sales Rise 4.4% to 373,700 Units |
- Where was Citroën founded?
- Citroën was founded in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France in 1919.
- Who founded Citroën?
- Citroën was founded by André Citroën.
- When did Citroën start?
- Citroën was founded in 1919.
- How old is Citroën?
- Citroën is 107 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
In 1919, André Citroën, an industrialist who had mass-produced artillery shells for the French army during WWI, realized he needed a new product for peace time. He was obsessed with the large efficiency of Henry Ford's factories in America. He completely retooled his munitions factory in Paris to build cars using the exact same assembly line principles. His goal was radical for Europe: stop building bespoke, expensive toys for aristocrats, and mass-produce a cheap, reliable car for the average French citizen, launching the European auto industry.
Founders
André Citroën
André Citroën founded his namesake automobile company in 1919 with a vision drastically different from his European contemporaries. While companies like Bugatti focused on bespoke luxury, Citroën wanted to become the 'Henry Ford of Europe.' He launched the Type A, Europe's first mass-produced, highly affordable automobile designed for the everyday consumer. A master of marketing and public relations, he famously illuminated the Eiffel Tower with the Citroën name and organized notable motorized expeditions across the Sahara and Asia to prove the durability of his half-track vehicles. Citroën was steadily innovative, introducing Europe's first all-steel car body and pioneering the influential 'Traction Avant' in 1934, the world's first mass-produced front-wheel-drive car with a unitary body. However, the large development costs of the Traction Avant, combined with his gambling debts and the Great Depression, bankrupted the company. He was forced out by his primary creditor, Michelin, and died shortly after in 1935, though his engineering legacy permanently modernized the European auto industry. André Citroën was born in 1878. Education: Lycée Condorcet; Lycée Louis-le-Grand.
Key Milestones
Automobiles Citroën Founded by André Citroën in Paris
Converted wartime munitions factory to build the Type A, Europe's first mass-produced automobile.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of the Revolutionary Citroën Traction Avant
Pioneered front-wheel drive, unibody construction, and independent front suspension.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgUnveiling of the Iconic Citroën 2CV People's Car
Introduced the ultra-affordable utilitarian car that motorized post-war rural France for 42 years.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDebut of the Legendary Hydropneumatic Citroën DS
Unveiled the aerodynamic masterpiece featuring self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension and turning headlights.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFormation of PSA Peugeot Citroën Group
Merged with Peugeot to form PSA, sharing platform development while preserving brand identity.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of the Citroën Ami Electric Quadricycle
Created the viral urban micro-mobility vehicle drivable from age 14 without a standard car license.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPart of Stellantis
Citroen became a Stellantis brand in January 2021 when PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThierry Koskas becomes CEO
Thierry Koskas became CEO of Citroën in 2023. Led Citroën from March 2023 to mid-2025, overseeing the launch of the ë-C3 and the new brand identity before moving to another Stellantis role.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of the Sub-€25k Citroën ë-C3
Introduced an affordable, European-built electric hatchback on the Stellantis Smart Car platform, priced from about €23,300 at launch.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgXavier Chardon Named CEO; Formula E Entry Announced
Chardon took over as CEO on June 2, 2025, and Citroën announced its entry into the Formula E world championship in September 2025.
Source: media.stellantis.comH1 2026 Sales Rise 4.4% to 373,700 Units
Renewed range lifted worldwide sales and European share to 3.4%, with EV orders up 98%.
Source: media.stellantis.comMajor Acquisitions
Panhard
1965Acquired historic French automaker Panhard to integrate lightweight aluminum chassis engineering and expand factory capacity.
Maserati
1968Acquired Italian luxury sports car builder Maserati to obtain high-performance V6 engine technology for the Citroën SM.
Mors Company
1919Automobile manufacturer acquisition following WWI to bolster production.
Keep researching Citroën
Citroën Company History FAQ
When was Citroën founded and what was its original manufacturing site?
Automobiles Citroën was founded in March 1919 by André Citroën, converting his armaments munitions factory at Quai de Javel in Paris into Europe's first assembly-line car manufacturing plant.
When did Citroën launch the well-known Traction Avant?
In May 1934, Citroën introduced the Traction Avant (7A/11CV), pioneering front-wheel drive, unibody construction, and hydraulic brakes, setting the engineering blueprint for modern passenger cars.
When was the well-known Citroën 2CV unveiled and what was its purpose?
The Citroën 2CV was officially unveiled at the 1948 Paris Motor Show. Designed as a rugged, low-cost vehicle to motorize French farmers across rural terrain, over 5.1 million 2CVs were produced through 1990.
When did Citroën launch the well-known DS 19 with hydropneumatic suspension?
At the Paris Motor Show on October 6, 1955, Citroën stunned the world with the futuristic DS 19 (the 'Goddess'), featuring aerodynamic space-age styling and major self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension, taking 12,000 orders in its first day.
When did Peugeot acquire Citroën to form Groupe PSA?
In 1976, Peugeot took ownership of Citroën from Michelin, forming PSA Peugeot Citroën to share vehicle platforms while preserving Citroën's unique design identity.
When did Citroën dominate the World Rally Championship with Sébastien Loeb?
Between 2003 and 2012, Citroën Racing dominated global motorsport, capturing 8 WRC Manufacturers' World Championships and 9 consecutive World Drivers' Championships with French racing icon Sébastien Loeb.
When did Citroën launch the electric Ami and the affordable ë-C3?
Citroën launched the Ami electric quadricycle in 2020 and unveiled the ë-C3 electric hatchback in 2023, with deliveries starting in 2024 from about €23,300.
What is Citroën's legacy in global automotive culture today?
Over more than a century, Citroën has stood as the world's champion of creative design, supreme suspension comfort, and accessible mobility, producing some of the most beloved and technologically transformative automobiles in human history.
When was Citroën founded?
It was founded in 1919 by André Citroën. He was an absolute visionary who visited Henry Ford in America and brought mass-production assembly lines back to Europe, quickly making Citroën the largest car manufacturer in Europe by the 1920s.
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