Being one of the most important automobile brands in the world today, the French Citroën brand has shown that success is something deserved by producing more than 300 models in the automobile market where it has been in for more than 100 years. Let’s take a closer look at the surprising details of Citroën’s story, full of battles, challenges and races.
One of the most important brands in the world, whose name you can not pass without mentioning when talking about the automobile. Citroën at the end of a journey that took more than 100 years It has gained a significant place in the automobile market. Designing a lifestyle, not just an automobile Citroen There are more than 300 models signed. The brand, which has a hundred years of history, is one of the most important living witnesses of recent history.
Citroen The history of the brand includes wars, economic crises, races and, more importantly, a story of perseverance. Not only the founder of the brand, André Citroën, but also other managers who took this flag from him and brought the brand to the present are the secret heroes of success. An automobile giant today. of the French Citroën brand Surprising details are hidden in his story, which is full of success as well as difficulties.
It all started with the production of bullets:
The founder of the Citroën brand, engineer André Citroën, born in 1878, set up a gear wheel manufacturing factory with his friends after he left the army, where he worked as an engineer officer. During World War I, this factory started to produce 20 thousand howitzer shells a day, and after a few weeks, 55 thousand howitzer shells a day. After the war is over André Citroën decided to shift its manufacturing power to the automobile manufacturing market.
In 1919, the first Citroën car, the Type A, was launched. Realizing the importance of advertising, André Citroën was at the 1922 Paris Motor Show. He wrote a Citroën in the sky with a plane. In 1925, this time the Citroën script was written on the 30-meter-high Eiffel Tower using 600 kilometers of cable.
André Citroën has prepared a special fleet to demonstrate the power of semi-tracked vehicles launched in 1922 and sent this fleet to the African deserts. Together with the B10 model, the first steel-bodied automobile, these vehicles proved their power by crossing the African continent from north to south. Citroën produced 50,000 vehicles in 1924.
The first models produced by Citroen:
In 1929, after Citroën introduced the first French commercial vehicle, the B15, along with the B14 model, one of the most luxurious vehicles of the period. the first high-speed truck Launched the C6 1 model and the improved C4F model. In 1931, André Citroën set his sights on the Asian market and held a show similar to the one in Africa.
Citroën continues its development process without slowing down; After introducing the 8CV, 10 CV and 15 CV models at the Paris Motor Show, it was launched in 1934 with the Type 7A model. brought a new breath to the automobile world. However, even these innovations could not prevent the company from entering a difficult process.
In 1935, after the death of André Citroën, the founder of the Citroën company, Pierre Boulanger succeeded him as CEO. Boulanger’s legacy serious financial difficulties and it was an endless struggle with the government over Michelin debts. The company had no choice but to take steps to start all over again.
II. World War II and the blown up Citroën factory:
Citroën introduces new models one after another after 1936 and was regaining its former strength. Among the models introduced during this period were 11 MI diesels, the new member of the Traction Avant series, the 15-Six, and the new commercial vehicle TUB. In this process, vehicles were renewed and it was aimed that gasoline models would offer much stronger performance.
Citroën’s work did not slow down even during World War II, until 1945. Until their factory in Javel was blown up during the bombardment. The company, which quickly healed its wounds, managed to present the 11B, 11BL and 15-SixG models at the Paris Motor Show in the same year. In 1948, the 2CV model was introduced, with a production of more than five million by 1990.
1955 and later Citroën, the DS, which looked like it came out of science fiction movies at that time, 46 DCUs, the first four-wheel drive truck, and Will win the Monte Carlo rally introduced the ID 19 models. With ID 19, Citroën announced to everyone that it is one of the automobile brands ready to take its place in the racing world.
The years go by fast for Citroën:
In 1961, Citroën broke new ground by offering the Ami 6 model on the same day all over Europe, with the legendary Dyane series. He left an unforgettable mark on Europe of the 1960s. Citroën, which launched the SM model in collaboration with Maserati in the early 1970s, was selected as the car of the year in 1971 with the GS model.
The compact version of the Dyane series in 1978. The commercial vehicle Acadiane is introduced. In the same year, Citroën became the favorite brand of the Paris Motor Show with its LNA and Visa models. Continuing its efforts to make commercial vehicles more compact in the 1980s, Citroën was again in a pioneering position with its more sports and daily use models.
Although not well known in our country, the Citroën XM model was the breaking point of the company:
The Citroën XM model left its mark on the automobile world in 1990 by receiving 14 international awards. ZX Rallye model Winning the 13th Paris-Dakar rally It was revealed that Citroën now has an unwavering place in the racing world.
The Paris Motor Show celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1997, after the introduction of the AX Electric and the now legendary Saxo models. During the celebration, of course, Citroën, which has been the favorite brand of the fair for years. came to the fore and presented the Xsara Picasso model to car lovers.
Citroën in the 21st century:
In the 2000s, Citroën now entered the World Rally Championship and with improved versions of the C3, C5 and C8 models. had made a name for himself. The C-Crosser model, the first SUV of the brand, was introduced in 2007. In 2008, the new Citroën C5 was introduced, bringing a new breath to the automobile world.
Taking on a new identity after 2009, Citroën introduced the new C3, C-Zero, C4 models one after the other as of February 5, the birth date of its founder. With the rightful pride of being a world-class brand it began to become the Citroën we know today.
The journey that Citroën founder André Citroën started by producing bullets in a small factory took more than 100 years and today Citroën, has now become one of the most important brands worldwide. Bringing more than 300 models to the automobile world on this fascinating journey, Citroën continues its innovative work without slowing down.