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Citroën Cars

Today, it is inconceivable to purchase a new vehicle from a dealer who does not offer service after the transaction is complete. Further, today's auto dealers are tied into the head office and obtain minute to minute information regarding warranties, recalls, promotions and new features. But there was a time when this was not standard business practice. In fact, in the beginning, dealer networks were not organized branches like present day vehicle dealerships. They were sales agents separate from the manufacturer. All that changed, however, with French car maker SA André Citroën.

Founded in 1919, by André Citroën, the company, was known for several "firsts". While excelling in many areas, three points for which André Citroën is credited are:

1. André was eager to get the word out about his vehicles and he wanted to sell many cars. But he recognized to do that he needed a major advertising campaign. Not only was it important to find potential customers and induce them to buy, but he needed the dealers to be active in the promotion as well. To this end, he ensured that all dealers received posters, flyers, vehicle manuals, lists of available spare parts, and anything else that would help them sell the brand. As other car manufacturers saw the success of his idea, they adopted the same methods.
2. André was keen to avoid disruptions in his factory. As a result, he wanted the employees to be happy so that they would keep production at a stable and consistent pace. In order to do this, he offered benefits and bonuses. In addition, he probably had one of the first day care centers in the workplace. Having employed mostly women during the war, he realized the need for them to look after their children. If that need was met, the ladies were able to work more efficiently.
3. Quality was an important issue for André. It was also crucial for him to understand the consequences when a vehicle was faced with an accident. And for him, there was no better way to find out than a real live experiment. So he started his own crash tests by pushing the cars over a cliff.

Interestingly, these are just a few of the futuristic accomplishments by Citroën. In addition to the above notable three, there are many other achievements found in Citroën's history.

Citroën History

• Car company was started as a result of purchasing the license to use a herringbone tooth pattern on gears. This pattern became the basis for the double chevron logo.
• Citroën has long been Europe's largest car maker. As early as 1929, the company had built over one-hundred thousand vehicles in one year and in 2004, they built one-million, three-hundred thousand worldwide. Even the first year of business was a blockbuster with the assembly of twenty-thousand cars.
• Continuing with being the biggest, the Citroën plant was the largest factory building in the UK and stayed in the same spot for forty-two years.
• 1920 saw huge successes with half-track autos which were used in hard-to-navigate areas. Some had tracks like those used by the military and others had snow skis and were used in Switzerland.
• 1924 added a third seat called "Trèfle" (Clover Leaf)
• Company offers its first six-cylinder (C6) capable of reaching speeds of sixty miles per hour.
• With the launch of the 11CV in 1934, the "Traction Avant" is made famous.
• December 1934, company is bankrupt.
• July 1935 André Citroën dies.
• 1935 Michelin takes over the company.
• 1939 is significant because Citroën produces, the "Traction Avant 15/Six". With its six-cylinder, seventy-seven horsepower, and eighty miles per hour speeds, it easily outran the four-cylinder police vehicles, thus giving it the nickname "the gangster limousine".
• 1963 Takeover of Panhard, another French car maker
• 1968 company becomes Citroën SA. Michelin and Michelin sells forty-nine percent to FIAT through the PARDEVI agreement (Participation et Développement Industriels).
• 1968 Buyout of Maserati
• 1973 FIAT withdraws from PARDEVI
• 1974 Citroën is bankrupt so government intervenes and Automobiles Citroën and Automobiles Peugeot are merged.
• 1975 Maserati is sold
• 1976 Citroën and Peugeot form a holding company called PSA Peugeot Citroën where Peugeot owns ninety percent of Citroën
• August 1, 2009 in order to celebrate its ninetieth anniversary, the company launches its newest campaign called 'Créative Technologie'.

Models and Years Launched

• 1919 Type A
• 1922 Type C
• 1925 B12
• 1927 B14
• 1929 C4
• 1932 Types 8, 10, 15
• 1932 Rosalie 8
• 1934 Traction Avant
• 1934 22CV
• 1939 11CV Commerciale
• 1939 Traction Avant 15/Six "gangster limousine".
• Cabriolets and Coupés
• 1947 H Van
• 1948 2CV
• 1955 La Déesse
• 1955 DS
• 1957 11CV Familiale
• 1974 CX
• 1976 GS
• 1976 Citroën Dyane
• 1978 Oltcit
• 1985 Axel
• 2003 C3 Pluriel convertible
• 2009 150 Limited Edition C3 Picassos 90th Anniversary Model