Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. It is the second
largest automaker in Europe, behind Volkswagen. Peugeot's roots go back to pepper,
salt and coffee mill manufacturing in 1842 and later bicycle manufacturing at the end
of the 19th century. Its world headquarters are in Paris, Avenue de la Grande Armée,
close to Porte Maillot and the Concorde Lafayette Hotel but the Peugeot company and
family is originally from Sochaux, France. Peugeot retains a large manufacturing plant
in Sochaux which is also home to the Peugeot Museum. The company also sponsors the
Sochaux football club, founded in 1928 by a member of the Peugeot family: the club' s
arms contain a lion logo similar to Peugeot's.
The Peugeot family of Valentigney, Montbéliard, Franche-Comté, France, began manufacturing
coffee grinders in the 1800s. Although the Peugeot factory had been in the manufacturing
business since the 1700s, the company's entry into the world of wheeled vehicles was
by means of crinoline dresses, which used steel rods, leading to umbrella frames, wire wheels,
and ultimately bicycles. Armand Peugeot introduced his "Le Grand Bi" penny-farthing in 1882
and along with a range of other bicycles. Peugeot bicycles continued to be built until very
recently, although the car company and bike company parted ways in 1926...
