Peugeot: A 200-Year Journey of Pride

Through generations and numerous ups and downs, Peugeot has maintained its distinctive characteristics deeply ingrained in the minds of automotive enthusiasts, encompassing brand value, design, and renowned technological innovations. Below are some memorable milestones of the Peugeot brand throughout its 200-year history. Over its 200-year development, Peugeot has produced many world-famous car models, all possessing the highest design standards set by the company, both interior and exterior. Each car is a timeless masterpiece, and every detail reflects a creative process. From its inception (1810) and throughout its development, every Peugeot has perfectly combined high aesthetic appeal with practical operational requirements.

Armand Peugeot and the French vision of automobile manufacturing.

Armand Peugeot led the Peugeot brand into the automotive industry when he founded the Serpollet-Peugeot company. In 1889, he unveiled the first three-wheeled vehicle powered by a steam engine, in collaboration with Léon Serpollet. Just one year later, Armand Peugeot replaced the steam engine with a gasoline engine in the first four-wheeled Peugeot, using a Daimler engine. Armand Peugeot's collaboration with Serpollet, Daimler, and Michelin made a name for itself in automotive technology at the time, through the transition from steam engines to gasoline engines, from steering wheels to round steering wheels, and from simple wheels to wheels with inner tubes and tires.

Subsequently, through collaborations with Ford and BMW, Peugeot became one of the world's leading automotive manufacturers, boasting advanced technology, powerful engines, and low CO2 emissions. Peugeot cars are increasingly environmentally friendly, exemplified by models equipped with HDi FAP diesel engines, THP gasoline engines, and VTI engines. Today, Peugeot is a globally renowned brand. Its globalization strategy has brought Peugeot cars to many countries around the world, showcasing the strong spirit of this long-established brand.

The widely produced Peugeot 201 served as the basis for the three-digit vehicle name identification system.

In 1929, Peugeot registered a patent for its three-digit vehicle identification system, which is still widely used today. The success of the Peugeot 201 in the automotive market paved the way for the introduction of the 301 (produced from 1932), 401, and 601 (from 1934) models. Before World War II, the Peugeot 401, 301, and 201 were successively replaced by the Peugeot 402 (from 1935), 302 (from 1936), and 202 (from 1938).

Since 1930, Peugeot has established three fundamental elements that have built its brand reputation: a three-digit model numbering system with a zero in the middle, the development of each model through generations, and success in satisfying customer needs through innovative inventions. From 2011, modern Peugeot models from the 206 and 207 series were introduced. In 2012, the 208 series continued its presence and has gone through eight generations, along with the 308 CC and 308 SW, 508 and 508 SW. Building on the success of the 1007, Peugeot decided to diversify its product line with larger models including the Peugeot 4007 SUV, Peugeot 3008 Crossover, and the Peugeot 5008 multi-purpose vehicle. Following this, Peugeot further developed the 508 RXH and 3008 Hybrid 4.

From the 404 convertible to the elegant RCZ

Peugeot was the first car manufacturer to mass-produce convertibles worldwide. As early as 1934, the Peugeot Eclipse 401 and 601 were introduced. Peugeot's quintessential post-World War II convertible, the 203, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show (1951). In 1962, the Peugeot 404, considered the best-designed convertible of the 1960s, was celebrated.

By 2011, several Peugeot convertible models continued to be successfully developed, such as the 207 CC, 308 CC, and 407 Coupé. The Peugeot RCZ also deserves mention, as over 30,000 RCZs have been sold across Europe since its introduction in 2010. Currently, the Peugeot RCZ is sold in over 80 countries worldwide.

Peugeot 205 with its legendary number

In 1983, Peugeot unveiled the 205. Just one year later, it became a legend with its GTI engine. The Peugeot 205 with the Turbo 16 engine won two World Rally Championship titles in 1985 and 1986. Over 5 million Peugeot 205s were produced before being replaced by the Peugeot 206 (1998). The 206 itself broke its predecessor's record with 6.5 million sold.

The success of the 205 and 206 paved the way for Peugeot to develop an internationalization strategy. In 1998, Peugeot signed an agreement with the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro to build a car manufacturing plant in Porto Real, where the first Peugeot 206 was produced in December 2010. Meanwhile, the Peugeot 207, launched in 2006, went on to become the best-selling car in Europe in 2007.

The success of the two aforementioned models paved the way for the launch of the Peugeot 208 in 2012. This model was considered both a design true to the tradition of its predecessors (205, 206, 207) and marked an innovation for the Peugeot small car brand with a new "Floating" grill, an optimized cockpit with a modern touchscreen, and very low CO2 emissions (87g/km from the diesel engine and 99g/km for the petrol engine).

Historic double wins at the races

In 2009, Peugeot Sport made a name for itself at the Le Mans 24-hour race with the 908 HDi FAP. This was a well-deserved reward for the Peugeot team.

From 1985-1986, Peugeot became known through the World Rally Champion competition with the Peugeot 205 equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharger. Then, in 1987-1988, Peugeot continued to make its mark in the Paris-Dakar Rally (with the 205 T16), followed by another success in 1989-1990 (with the 405 T16).

In November 2011, Peugeot added another victory to its tally with the 908 HDi FAP at the ILMC Endurance Championship in Zhuhai, China. Peugeot continues to set new records in the sports car sector and offer customers new experiences with cutting-edge technology. The company has also partnered with the French Open for 14 years and was a partner of the Lancôme Trophy tournaments until 2003. Always showing a special fondness for golf, the automaker organized the "Peugeot RCZ Cup" golf tournament in 2010.

In 1989, Peugeot became the official partner and transport provider of the French Tennis Open and launched a series of new models at the Roland-Garros tournament, starting with the 205 hatchback, followed by the current 207 CC and 308 CC. November 2011 marked the 15th anniversary of Peugeot's sponsorship of the Stade Toulousain rugby team. At that time, Peugeot introduced the 207 Stade Toulousain (the Limited Edition).

Continuing to expand globally

2010 marked a momentous occasion: the 200th anniversary of the Peugeot brand, and the Peugeot lion emblem was redesigned once again. Peugeot's designers created a simpler and more dynamic emblem, conveying a new meaning of "movement and emotion" from a fresh perspective.

In recent years, Peugeot has strengthened its global presence and expanded in Latin America and Asia, including the Vietnamese market (since 2013). Following the launch of the 508 in 2011, Peugeot is ready to face new challenges in 2012 with the launch of new models: the Peugeot 208, 3008 Hybrid4, 508 RXH, and 408.

Ambition to lead the European car market in Vietnam.

Choosing Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) as the exclusive distributor, assembler, and manufacturer of the Peugeot brand in Vietnam, Peugeot officially returned to the market in 2013 with the Peugeot 408 model. After more than a year since its launch, Peugeot has developed 8 official showrooms nationwide. The Peugeot brand is increasingly well-received by customers, with the Peugeot 208, 3008, and 508 being particularly popular. Its beautiful and luxurious design, powerful yet fuel-efficient performance, reasonable price, professional after-sales service, and genuine spare parts have quickly helped the Peugeot brand establish a strong position in the Vietnamese automotive market.

The Thanh