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Peugeot Cars

The France based Peugeot, is next only to Benz/Daimler/Mercedes in terms of time period for which these companies have producing automobiles. Peugeot, before producing automobiles, was a well established manufacturer of bicycles and prior to that it used to manufacture goods like tools, utensils, sewing machines, coffee grinders etc. As a matter of fact, Peugeot has been there in the manufacturing business since 15th century when it used to construct windmills and had other businesses like that of weaving and milling.

In the beginning the Peugeot produce a steam driven tricycle as its first vehicle but it proceeded pretty swiftly towards the new technology. With the help of Gottlieb Daimler of Daimler- Benz fame, it launched its gas powered vehicles. It went on to manufacture vans and motorcycles just after the commencement of 20th century. The representatives of Peugeot learned about mass production during their post World War I visit to US. In 1929, the company launched its first car, the 201, which had independent front wheels. It was first of its kind as well. The company used a three digit naming system for its car, where the first digit 2 represented the family and size of the vehicle, digit 1 for the generation, and 0 represented the placeholder. The naming system persists till date as well e.g. 207 represents the 7th generation car of the 200 series. The Peugeot has its sentiments associated with this number system that it has got it protected by trademark IPR. There are vehicles whose number contain double zeros in between, this is done to facilitate large no. of vehicles under that number system, it’s like increasing the range of the domain for number system e.g. 4007 the SUV which was recently launched in Europe in July 2007.

Peugeot 202, 203 were introduced in the market in the years 1938 and 1948 respectively. The production of the 203 continued till 1960. Then came the fourth generation 200 series car the 204 in 1965, which was Peugeot’s first car having front wheel drive. In 1983 the auto-world witnessed the eminent 205 hatchback which had similar appearance as that of the early VW Rabbits. Nowadays Peugeot is engaged in producing both the 206 and the 207 which are available in sedan, convertible and wagon trims, also in specialty coupe trims like 207 GTi, which is marketed in the UK.

In 1930s the Peugeot 300 and 400 series vehicles were launched and the subsequent generations were launched in every ten years of intervals. Thus we have the 307 and 308 these days. The 307 comes in sedan, convertible and wagon trims while the 308 is available in coupe and sedan trims. Peugeot introduced a family car in 2004, the 407 which is obtainable in coupe, sedan, or station wagon trims

Selling its vehicles over 140 countries, the Peugeot is counted among the big guns in the world of automobiles. However, these days the company is not permitted to sell its vehicles in U.S. This is because its vehicles are not at par with the regulations of U.S. (predominantly the emission control regulations). Thus far it has sold 304, 403, 404, 405, 504, 505, and 604 models in US during the period 1959-1992. Thereafter no vehicle has been sold in the U.S. markets. The company does not look forward to the resumption of sales in U.S. or Canada.

However the company does provide customer support through the Peugeot Motors of America in terms of inventory of the spare parts, documentation of the cars sold and also the technical service points for the US customers who retain the earlier models sold in US.