Citroën

Automotive ManufacturingFounded 1919

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

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Citroën

Automotive ManufacturingFounded 1919

Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya

Last reviewed: September 12, 2026

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

Founders

Who Founded Citroën?

André Citroën · Founded 1919 · Poissy, Île-de-France, France

Quick Answer

Citroën was founded by André Citroën in 1919 in Poissy, Île-de-France, France. The company is currently led by Thierry Koskas.

Founding Story

In 1919, French industrialist André Citroën converted his Paris munitions factory at the Quai de Javel—which had produced over 50,000 artillery shells daily during World War I—into a cutting-edge automotive plant. Inspired by Henry Ford's Highland Park assembly line, André became the first European to implement modern automotive mass production, launching the **Citroën Type A** in June 1919 as Europe's first mass-produced car. André was a marketing and engineering genius: he illuminated the Eiffel Tower with 250,000 lightbulbs spelling 'CITROËN' for a decade, funded pioneering trans-Saharan motorized expeditions, and introduced the double-chevron logo (inspired by his patented herringbone helical gears). In 1934, Citroën launched the revolutionary **Traction Avant**—the world's first mass-produced unibody front-wheel-drive car—cementing Citroën's place as the world's most daring automotive innovator.

André Citroën

Background

André Citroën was a French industrialist, engineer, and graduate of École Polytechnique who patented helical herringbone gears and introduced assembly-line mass production to Europe.

Role at Citroën

André Citroën was one of the greatest visionaries in automotive history. In 1919, André founded Automobiles Citroën, building Europe's first mass-produced car. André pioneered front-wheel drive on the 1934 Traction Avant, launched the world's first automotive consumer warranties, and illuminated the Eiffel Tower with his brand name.

Citroën: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Thierry Koskas

Chief Executive Officer

2023 – Present

Automotive executive and Stellantis Chief Sales Officer who engineered the launch of the sub-€25k ë-C3 and revitalized Citroën's affordable brand positioning.

Pierre Leclercq

Head of Design

2018 – Present

Acclaimed automotive designer who created the bold, graphic design language of the new C3, C4, Ami, and the Citroën Oli sustainable concept.

Compare Citroën With Competitors

Citroën vs Toyota Motor Corporation →Citroën vs Bayerische Motoren Werke AG →Citroën vs Honda Motor Co., Ltd. →Citroën vs Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. →Citroën vs Suzuki Motor Corporation →

Who Founded Citroën? FAQ

Who founded Citroën and in what year was it established?

Citroën was founded in 1919 by André Citroën in Poissy, Île-de-France, France.

What was the original founding vision for Citroën?

The founders established Citroën with the objective of solving core inefficiencies in Automotive Manufacturing, Passenger Cars, Affordable Electric Vehicles (EV), Compact SUVs & Urban Micro-Mobility, laying the foundation for its current global scale.

How does Citroën preserve its founding principles today?