1910

1919

Creativity. Technology. Courage. In 1919, André Citroën founded the brand of the same name ...

1919

Citroën "Model A"

The Type A, with a 1327 cc four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 65 km / h, goes on sale.

1920

1920

Having been on the market for just one year, Citroen manages to sell 10,000 vehicles

20 February 1921

Always one step ahead. On February 20, 1921, Citroen unveils a series of enamelled road signs for French roads.

12 July 1921

Citroen presents the 2nd car in the model range: B2. Compared to Type A, this is a more powerful and technologically advanced car.

01 October 1922

Paris Motor Show: world presentation of the Citroen 5HP. A new compact car based on the Type A.

12 October 1922

Bold creativity ... For the first time, in honor of the opening of the 7th Paris Motor Show, an airplane writes the brand name in the sky. This is Paris! This is Citroen!

17 December 1922

To highlight the quality of his tracked vehicles, launched in 1922, André Citroën decides to send them across the Sahara. Georges-Marie Haardt and Louis Audouin-Dubreuil embark on the Tuggourt-Timbuktu-Tuggourt expedition, which lasts from December 17, 1922 to March 7, 1923.

1924

In 1924, Citroen's production reached 50,000 cars a year.

01 October 1924

Citroen unveils the B10, the first car with an all-metal body to replace metal and wood models.

28 October 1924

Expedition "Black Raid" in Africa

Inspired by the success of the Sahara expedition two years earlier, Citroen is equipping the Black Raid expedition to cross the entire African continent from Colombes Béchar to Cape Town from October 28, 1924 to June 26, 1925.

1925

Official statistics on the number of cars per capita

In 1926, about a third of the cars on the roads in France are Citroen cars.

28 September 1926

Citroen unveils the B14, a mass-market vehicle that combines luxury features. It was one of the most popular vehicles during the interwar period. Citroen is also introducing the B15, the first French commercial vehicle with an enclosed cockpit.

1926

Citroen publishes the first repair manual with spare parts catalog for the dealer network.

1926

By this time, Citroen employs 31,000 workers and produces 400 vehicles a day - a record production capacity in Europe.

21 May 1927

Charles Lindbergh at the Citroen factory in 1927

Charles Lindbergh, who made the first transatlantic flight, visits the Citroen factory

01 October 1928

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen presents two new models, the C4 and C6.

1929

Launch of Citroen C6 1 production in 1929

Launch of France's first high-speed truck, the C61. Payload: 1800 kg, 6-cylinder engine, 42 hp Steel enclosed cabin

16 March 1929

Inauguration of the legendary Marbeuf garage. An architectural masterpiece that will pave the way for the brand's other iconic locations.

01 October 1929

Demonstrating once again his character as a pioneer, André Citroën opens the doors of his factory on the Quai Javel to the public on the occasion of the opening of the Paris Motor Show

1930

04 April 1931

"Yellow raid" in Asia

Five years after the "Black Raid" expedition "Yellow Raid" is organized. This time the Citroen company does not recognize any intends to cross the Asian continent from Beirut to Beijing.

October 1931

André Citroën returns from the United States with new ideas, one of which involves the use of a resilient suspension engine - an idea that has contributed to the modernization of cars.
This innovative technology mitigates vibration from the engine by installing rubber blocks between the engine and the chassis.

April 1932

Resilient suspension engine Citroen

The C4 G and C6 G cars get a resilient suspension engine called MFP (Moteur Floating Power). Citroen is once again outperforming its European competitors. Now all Citroen cars, without exception, are equipped with a resilient suspension engine.

October 1932

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen presents Rosalie cars: 8CV, 10CV and 15CV. The first two models replaced the C4, and the third with a six-cylinder engine replaced the C6.
In 1931, thanks to a series of new speed records at the Linas-Montleri circuit, all three models quickly earned the nickname "Rosalie".

27 July 1933

Montleri Circuit 300,000 km. 134 days. average speed 93 km / h. This is a new world record set by the Petite Rosalie (8CV).

18 April 1934

Innovation. Safety. Comfort. Efficiency. Citroen is introducing the all-new Type 7A, which features front-wheel drive, frameless monobloc steel body, hydraulic brakes on four wheels, independent torsion bar suspension, resilient overhead valve engine and removable cylinder liners ...

01 October 1934

New Traction at the Paris Motor Show: 11. Based on the body of the Model 7, extended by 14 cm and lengthened by 20 cm. This model has a 46 hp engine. and a 3-speed gearbox with speeds up to 106 km / h.

12 December 1934

The launch of the Traction Avant model does not solve the company's serious financial difficulties, and the company is unable to meet its financial obligations. At that time, Citroen is the leading national as well as European car manufacturer and is the second in the world. At the request of the government, Michelin, the main creditor, is writing off the company's debts and putting Citroen back on its feet. Citroen continues to operate under Michelin control.

03 July 1935

As a result of a serious illness, Andre Citroen died. Pierre Boulanger becomes the CEO of the company.

1936

Pierre Boulanger launches the project of the popular subcompact car, the future 2CV. Its technical specifications say: "A car designed to carry four people and 50 kg of potatoes, reaching a speed of up to 60 km / h, with a consumption of 3 liters of gasoline per 100 km, which should provide a comfortable ride."

October 1936

Citroen unveils the 11 MI with a diesel engine at the Paris Motor Show. It is the world's first passenger production model with a diesel engine.

12 January 1938

First road tests of the TPV (subcompact) prototype that will become the famous 2CV.

01 October 1938

Citroën traction avant 15 CV

The Traction Avant family expands with the 15-Six. Spacious, comfortable, fast car (135 km / h), easy to drive. With its excellent roadholding, the 15-Six is \u200b\u200bquickly becoming the Queen of the Road.

April 1939

Citroen launches the TUB, a B-Series commercial vehicle with a modern design, extended cab and sliding side loading door.

23 August 1939

The French Testing Department registers the 2CV and is now ready for its market debut.

1940

03 June 1940

Citroen's plant on the Javelle embankment comes under bombardment. Factory staff dismantle and hide undamaged 2CV prototypes. Due to the occupation, production practically stops.

1941

Due to the lack of fuel, Citroën decides not to suffer losses and offers new alternatives to ensure the mobility of its customers.

1942

1942

The second bombing of the plant on the Javel embankment, production facilities were seriously damaged.

06 November 1944

The first Citroen truck

Following appropriate action, Citroën launches its first truck at the Javelle Quay plant a year after the bombing.

1945

The plant on the Zhavel embankment has been restored. Citroën manages to respond quickly to increasing demands. Production reaches 13.4% of its pre-war level.

1946

CHAMPS NON RENSEIGNE

In France, the restoration process is in full swing. Half of Citroën's cars are commercial vehicles.

01 October 1946

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroën unveils three new models: the 11 B, known as the "11 normale" (standard model), the 11 BL known as the "11 Légère" (lightweight model), and the 15-sixG.

June 1947

First presentation of the Type H. Company President Pierre Boulanger announces the technical specifications: a front-wheel drive single-volume vehicle that will adapt the features of the four-cylinder Traction Avant with reinforced rear suspension. The main goal is to maximize the use of parts of other cars of the company.

07 October 1948

Citroen 2CV presentation

Finally, the 2CV is presented to the public and to the President of the Republic, Vincent Oriol, at the Paris Motor Show. This model surprises with its unusual appearance and expresses a new philosophy of personal transport. It will be released in various versions with a circulation of more than 5 million copies until July 27, 1990.

October 1949

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroën unveils the Type HZ, a small van with a payload of 850 kg, capable of speeds up to 88 km / h.

1950

October 1950

Inspired by the success of the 2CV model, the line to buy which lined up 6 years ahead, Citroen at the Paris Motor Show presents to the public a modification of the van: payload 250 kg, 375 cm3 engine with a maximum speed of 60 km / h and a fuel consumption of 5 liters per 100 km ...

11 November 1950

Pierre Boulanger, CEO of Citroen, died at the age of 65 (born March 10, 1885)

1951

The Citroen 15 CV becomes the official vehicle of the French authorities.

March 1951

Start of production of the 2CV van; the production of this car will be over 1.2 million copies in the period up to March 1978.

June 1952

To meet the needs of its customers, Citroen is extending the rear of the Tractions Avant to double the boot capacity.

1953

Citroen Type 55 commercial vehicle

The Type 55 commercial vehicle replaces the Type 45. Gasoline and diesel engines, 76 hp, 5,000 kg payload with a gross vehicle weight of 9,300 kg. There is also a 55 UADI bus with a 6-cylinder diesel engine for 29 seats.

May 1954

Citroen 15 six

The 15-Six has a fixed height hydropneumatic suspension at the rear. A real technical breakthrough from the Citroen design bureau.

20 July 1955

Completion of production of the 15-Six after a 23-year career.

06 October 1955

Citroen DS at the Paris Motor Show

A technical and aesthetic revolution at the Paris Motor Show. Citroen unveils the DS, a sci-fi car. Original design, avant-garde trim, hydropneumatic suspension and fully hydraulic steering. 750 cars were sold in just 45 minutes, 12,000 the next day and 80,000 before the show closed.

1955

CHAMPS NON RENSEIGNE (1956)

Appearance of the ID 19 model in the model range. Available in the Standard version (63 hp, 4000 rpm and 130 km / h) and the Lux version (66 hp, 4500 rpm and 135 km / h).

May 1957

Appearance of the ID 19 model in the model range. Available in the Standard version (63 hp, 4000 rpm and 130 km / h) and the Lux version (66 hp, 4500 rpm and 135 km / h).

July 1957

Complete completion of production of the Traction Avant with over 750,000 units produced.

March 1958

Presentation of 2CV 4x4 vehicles, also known as 2CV Sahara. This four-wheel-drive vehicle with two 425 cm3 engines has an increased cross-country ability: it is capable of climbing sandy slopes with a slope of more than 40% with full load.

09 October 1958

In honor of the founder of the company, the Javel embankment receives the name Andre Citroen embankment.

1959

Pioneer. Citroen is invited to exhibit the DS car body at an international exhibition of design art, chaired by architect Giovanni Gio Ponti, at the Triennale Museum in Milan.

1959

Winning ID 19 at the Monte Carlo Rally with the Colteloni-Alexandre-Derozier crew. As a result, Citroen decides to participate in various car competitions.

1960

01 October 1960

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen unveils the DS 19 convertible with a body from Henri Chapron. This car has the widest range of options for personalization: 76 color combinations, 13 body colors and 11 shades of leather trim on the upholstery!

1960

Opening of a plant in the suburbs of Rennes (Brittany). With state-of-the-art equipment and automation, the plant is designed to produce 1,200 vehicles per day. This is Citroen's first full-cycle plant.

24 April 1961

Launching Ami 6 on the same day across Europe. Ami 6 complemented the lineup; its main differences are the pronounced body lines and the rear concave glass.

22 August 1962

General de Gaulle survives an attempted assassination at Petit Clamart near Paris. Despite the riddled wheels, the Citroen DS presidential car continued to drive without further damage.

October 1962

In October, at the Paris Motor Show, which is held for the first time at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center, Citroen will present the updated DS 19. It features a new front end design and new bumpers that have been developed to improve aerodynamic properties and performance (vehicle speed reaches 160 km / h).

1963

Creation of the Citroen sports division under the leadership of Rene Cotton.

07 February 1964

Legendary Citroen designer Flaminio Bertoni dies. He was at the origin of the legendary DS 19 and Ami 6.

September 1964

Citroen introduces the DS 19 Pallas, a sophisticated vehicle that places great emphasis on interior design and finish.

October 1964

Citroen Ami 6 station wagon

Paris Motor Show: Presentation of the Ami 6 station wagon and a new option for all Citroen cars - seat belts.

December 1964

The 2CV gets new front hinged doors.

September 1965

The arrival of the new DS 21. More powerful, with a new 5-bearing crankshaft engine, the DS 21 also features an automatic headlight range control to compensate for dynamic fluctuations in the vehicle chassis height above the road surface.

January 1965

The last rally for the Citroen DS car driven by Flying Finn Pauli Toivonen ends in victory in Monte Carlo.

July 1967

Between the 2CV and the Ami 6, Citroen is expanding its lineup with the Dyane. This vehicle uses the proven chassis of the 2CV model (425 cc twin, 4-speed gearbox, speed up to 100 km / h and consumption 4.9 liters / 100 km) and a completely new body. With a tailgate and folding rear seats, this car is a sedan with all the benefits of a station wagon.

September 1967

All DS and ID models have been redesigned (fenders, bonnet, bumper, lower fairing, and an optical system of four headlights, two of which swivel in the direction of travel).

January 1968

The Dyane 6 debuts. This car is equipped with a more powerful engine compared to the Ami model (602 cc, 110 km / h and a consumption of 6.1 liters / 100 km).

May 1968

Citroen expands the family of small two-cylinder cars with the Méhari model. An original, universal off-road vehicle. The use of a plastic body eliminates the risk of corrosion and increases resistance to minor impacts.

March 1969

The Ami 8 replaces the Ami 6. This car features a new body design that is simplified and sleeker for improved visibility.

September 1969

Another victory over the competition with the DS 21 marks the first use of an electronically controlled injection system in a French production vehicle. (12 hp, 188 km / h for 10 liters / 100 km).

07 October 1969

Launch of the millionth DS car, the DS 21 with a gold body.

1970

January 1970

Limited edition of 267 pieces. Body based on the Ami 8. 2-door 4-seater coupe. Hydropneumatic suspension. 995cc single rotor piston engine and 4-speed gearbox. The M35 prototype is a true laboratory on wheels. Citroen offers it to its customers who want to test it, with a range of over 30,000 km / year.

March 1970

Citroen SM

Born into the light of an agreement with Maserati in 1968, the sporty and respectable Citroen SM touring car has inherited DS's expertise in all-wheel drive and hydraulic suspension. It is equipped with a Maserati six-cylinder V-engine, a five-speed gearbox and a Diravi electric power steering system. Its dynamic qualities captivate connoisseurs not only in France and Europe, but also in the United States of America.

October 1970

Sitting between the Ami 8 and the DS in Citroen's lineup, the GS unveiled at the Paris Motor Show features a new body that remains the most aerodynamic in the world for years to come. It also features an air-cooled flat-four cylinder engine with hydropneumatic suspension.

1970

With the Paris-Persepolis-Paris Rally, Citroen is giving 1,300 young people from all walks of life an exciting journey behind the wheel of a 2CV, model Dyane or Méhari, 13,800 kilometers from the outskirts of Paris to southern Iran.

1970

Citroen GS wins Car of the Year 1971

GS car wins Car of the Year award.

April 1971

First participation in competitions, first victory. We are talking about Citroen SM at the rally in Morocco.

September 1972

The DS 23 with a carburetor and electronically controlled injection system replaces the DS 21. It is equipped with a new 2347 cm3 engine (speed up to 188 km / h and consumption 12 liters / 100 km).

February 1973

Super Ami \u003d Ami body + GS 4-cylinder engine.

1974

Merger of Citroen and Peugeot

Michelin and Peugeot group decide to merge Citroen and Peugeot to create a large international company.

March 1974

Market launch of the C35. Commercial vehicle with a payload of 1,885 kg built in conjunction with Fiat.

October 1974

Citroen cx

Citroen CX presented at the Paris Motor Show. Less revolutionary than its predecessor, the DS, which it replaced, the CX combines the company's latest technological advances. The best proof of this is the transversely front-mounted engine / gearbox, fixed-height hydropneumatic suspension, single-blade wiper, concave taillights and a futuristic instrument panel.

January 1975

CHAMPS NON RENSEIGNE (1975)

The CX wins Car of the Year, Safety and Style awards.

24 April 1975

The last DS car leaves the assembly line of the Javel plant. 1,330,755 and the latest is the DS 23 Pallas Bleu Delta with electronically controlled injection.

January 1976

First presentation of the CX utility vehicle.

01 October 1976

The first presentation of the Citroen LN is taking place at the Paris Motor Show. Smallest engine in the range with the smallest body (based on the Peugeot 104 coupe). Air-cooled, two-cylinder, 602 cc engine, 32 hp, 4-speed gearbox, speed up to 120 km / h and consumption 5.9 liters / 100 km.

1976

CX 2400s take the top 5 spots on the Senegal road trip

April 1977

Presentation of the special limited edition "Dyane Caban" of 1,500 pieces.

May 1977

CX 2400 GTI: Electronically controlled injection, 2,347 cc engine, 128 hp, top speed 189 km / h and consumption 8.1 liters / 100 km.

February 1978

The CX Prestige is introduced, featuring a 25 cm longer body.

March 1978

The Acadiane, a new small commercial vehicle based on the Dyane, replaces the 2CV. Engine with a volume of 602 cm3, 31 hp and speeds up to 100 km / h.

October 1978

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen presents two new products: the LNA model, which replaced the LN, and the Visa model. These new vehicles are equipped with AEI (Electronic Ignition System) - the first in the world to have this system installed on a production vehicle.

May 1979

Méhari all-wheel drive model

Launch of the Méhari 4x4 model. This model is equipped with a 7-speed gearbox (4 normal and 3 transfer) and reverse gear with a reduction gear.

1980

October 1980

The 2CV gets a two-tone body and round headlights with the introduction of the 2CV Charleston. Originally envisioned as a limited edition of 8,000 copies, the 2CV Charleston has enjoyed overwhelming success, leading to the launch of this model in series production in 1981.

March 1981

The Visa is replaced by the Visa II with a new body and a more fuel efficient engine.

May 1981

Citroen launches new C25 commercial vehicle, co-produced with Peugeot and Fiat.

July 1982

Occupying the top positions of the Visa model range, the Visa GT replaces the Visa II Super X. It is equipped with a 1,360 cm3 80 hp engine, reaches a speed of 168 km / h and a consumption of 5.6 liters / 100 km.

September 1982

Presentation of the production model BX, designed to win new customers. It is a 5-door and 5-seater hatchback that sits between the GSA and CX in the model range. It comes with 3 engines to choose from: 1,360 cc and 62 hp with 4-speed gearbox, 1,360 cc and 72 hp with 5-speed gearbox and 1,580 displacement and 90 hp with 5-speed gearbox gear.

February 1983

Launch of the Visa convertible: the roof with flexible rear window can be folded completely or only at the front.

July 1983

From this date, all Citroen production vehicles are equipped with a laminated windshield.

1983

Citroen is launching a women's racing series with Michelin: 11 finalists have been selected from 6,000 candidates. 6 tests were carried out and only 2 of the finalists became factory testers.

September 1984

Launch of the BX 19 GT, equipped with an on-board computer and a 1,905 cm3 (185 km / h) engine.

October 1984

Citroen CX 25 GTi Turbo

CX 25 GTi Turbo: Highest performance in its category. 2,500 cc engine with electronically controlled injection and turbocharger, 168 hp, speed up to 220 km / h.

October 1984

The C15 E (petrol) and C15 D (diesel) are two small commercial vehicles with a payload of 570 kg, based on the Visa model.

January 1985

Launch of the Visa GTi model. 1,580 cc engine with electronically controlled injection, 105 hp and a 5-speed gearbox allows the car to reach speeds of up to 188 km / h.

1985 March

October 1986

//

Citroen unveils the AX at the Paris Motor Show. 3-door hatchback with front-wheel drive and a drag coefficient of 0.31. It is equipped with a completely new transversely vertically mounted transmission.

1987

Citroen AX enters the small sports car market, first in March with the AX Sport and then in October with the AX GT. This model takes part in the Moroccan Rally and the Monte Carlo Rally.

January 1987

From now on, Citroen provides a 5-year anti-corrosion warranty on all models.

July 1987

Presentation of the new BX 19 GTi with the first French 16-valve engine (4 cylinders, 1,905 cm3, 164 hp, top speed 218 km / h).

July 1988

Operation Dragon

Operation Dragon. 140 young drivers from all over Europe make a rally over 4,500 km across China in a Citroen AX between Shenzhen and Beijing.

October 1988

Citroen presents the "Activa" model at the Paris International Motor Show. It is an experimental prototype that has served as the basis for the development of projects such as the development of four-wheel drive and electronically controlled suspension.

December 1988

The AX Sport Turbo takes 7 podiums out of 10 in the French Super Manufacturers Championship.

February 1989

Two new all-wheel drive BX models introduced to dealerships: the BX 4x4 and the BX 4x4 Evasion. Their all-wheel drive includes the following 3 differentials: front, center with locking and rear with limited slip.

23 May 1989

Citroen adds a new model to its lineup: the Xm. This is a serial liftback designed by Bertone, the world's first suspension system that combines electronic control with hydraulic power and flexibility. The moment of birth of the Hydractive suspension.

1990

1990

Citroen XM wins Car of the Year award

The Xm wins Car of the Year and 14 international awards.

27 July 1990

After the release of 5,114,940 copies, production of 2CV cars was ceremoniously stopped at the plant in Mangualdi (Portugal). The car quickly became popular with collectors.

October 1990

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen is once again showcasing its technological advancements. The electric cars C15 and C25 sit alongside the working prototype of the Activa 2, a true star of the interior. The Activa 2 is powered by a 200 hp, 24-valve, three-liter V6 engine, an automatic 4-speed transmission, active lateral control and a 5-function screen.

17 January 1991

ZX Rallye raid driven by Ari Vatanen wins 13th victory in Paris-Tripoli-Dakar (9,186 km)

1991 March

CHAMPS NON RENSEIGNE (1991)

Citroen unveils the ZX at the Geneva Motor Show. It will be launched as a “collection” of 4 models (Reflex, Avantage, Aura and Volcane), which sit between the AX and BX in the range. The ZX is the first European car with a reclining sliding back seat.

20 April 1992

The Citroen Citela electric car prototype is the main focus of the French Pavilion at the Seville World Exhibition.

29 September 1992

60 years after the Yellow Raid, the crew of Pierre Lartigue / Michel Peren takes part in the Paris-Moscow-Beijing rally 16,000 km long and wins first place in a Citroen ZX Rallye Raid.

01 March 1993

Sales of the Xantia, a 5-door sedan, 4.44 m long, co-produced by Citroen and Bertone. The Xantia model implements all the company's technological achievements not only in order to set new industry standards in driving comfort, but also to equip the car with a powerful passive safety system (Hydractive 2)

21 September 1993

Launch of the 2,000,000th AX at the Aulnay-sous-bois plant.

14 January 1994

The first presentation of the Citroen Jumper on the occasion of the opening of the commercial vehicle showroom in Geneva. The product of collaboration with Peugeot and Fiat, Citroen Jumper is extremely attractive: looks, new gasoline and diesel engines, new transmissions.

March 1994

Citroen Evasion presentation at the Geneva Motor Show. It combines all the qualities of an executive sedan in terms of handling, comfort, road behavior and safety.

October 1994

The Xantia Activa, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, is the first vehicle in the world to change the ride height thanks to its active SC.CAR transverse control system. It also comes equipped with additional features such as a driver's airbag, electrically operated rear power windows and, finally, seat backs adjustable in width.

February 1995

Launch of the millionth ZX at the Onet-sous-Bois (Olney) plant.

15 September 1995

Transport exhibition. Citroen presents the Jumpy, a commercial vehicle, compact and versatile (payload 815 kg and usable volume 4 m3).

November 1995

The Citroen AX Electrique debuts on the market. Power: 20 kW. Maximum speed: 91 km / h. Autonomy: 75 km within the city limits. Available in 3-door / 4-seater hatchback and 2-seater commercial vehicle versions.

02 November 1995

1996

The Saxo Cup replaces the Coupe AX.

1996

In 8 months, the Onet-sous-Bois (Olney) plant produced 100,000 Saxo vehicles.

July 1996

Commercial realization of the Citroen Berlingo car. Despite the fact that the style of the Berlingo resembles more a sedan than a commercial vehicle, its useful volume is 3m3 with a payload of 800 kg.

September 1996

Minivan Citroen Berlingo

The first appearance of the Berlingo minivan, practical and convenient, the start of sales of which is scheduled for early 1997.

22 August 1997

International PR company for young Europeans from 18 to 35 years old: Rally in a Citroen Berlingo on the route Paris-Samarkand-Moscow.

11 September 1997

Citroen Xsara (4.17 m) joins the lineup, placing it between Saxo (3.72 m) and Xantia (4.52 m). The next generation symbol at the top of the lineup, Xsara showcases the company's leadership in comfort, safety and driving behavior.

06 February 1998

At the retro car show, Citroen is showing three unique pre-war 2CVs, produced in accordance with 1939 certification.

25 March 1998

The 500,000th Saxo vehicle leaves the assembly line under the patronage of the sculptor Cesar.

October 1998

Concept car Citroen C3 "Lumière"

Citroen looks to the future with the C3 Lumière concept car, which serves as the prototype for the new model. It features an innovative and versatile architecture in terms of functionality and interior layout.

October 1998

Centenary of the Paris Motor Show. Citroen unveils the Xsara Picasso, a compact vehicle that combines monocab and hatchback features with an original and innovative design.

1998

1 million de Citroën Xantia & Citroën Saxo produites

The millionth Xantia is produced at the Rennes-la-Janais plant, and the millionth Saxo is produced from the assembly line at the Aulnay-sous-bois plant.

11 March 1999

Concept car Citroen C6 "Lignage"

"The Art of Traveling with Citroen" or the presentation of the C6 Lignage at the Geneva Motor Show. The C6 Lignage illustrates the architectural and design possibilities of the company's future executive model. At the same Citroen stand, the visitor can also linger at the "Pluriel" exhibition sample, an original model that does not fit into any traditional segment.

2000

1999

Construction of the Citroen Museum in Onet-sous-Bois (Olney). This 6,700 m2 building was built with the aim of preserving the Citroën car models produced since the company was founded and preserved to this day. Its opening is scheduled for November 28, 2001.

02 March 2000

CHAMPS NON RENSEIGNE (2000)

Citroen C3 Pluriel presentation at the Geneva Motor Show.

30 September 2000

Status, power, dynamism, endurance. Citroen unveils the C5 at the Paris Motor Show. To bridge the gap between pedestrians and cyclists, the company is also unveiling the Osmose concept car, aimed primarily at urban use. The car of the future, sociable and open. It will then be exhibited at the Georges Pompidou Center.

2001

Citroen's young hope, Sebastian Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Helena won the French Championship in an Xsara KitCar. The same crew also became the World Junior Rally Champion in a Saxo Super 1600.

2001 September

Citroen unveils the C3 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and introduces the C-Crosser concept car: 3-seat front, movable driver's seat (left, center and right) with electronic control ("x-by- wire "), lack of a steering column. It is a versatile vehicle that combines adventure, freedom and comfort.

07 March 2002

At the Geneva Motor Show, Citroen unveils the C8, a car for traveling with family or friends, where everything is thought out to the smallest detail.

25 August 2002

Loeb and Elena's first world victory

At the stage of the World Rally Championship in Germany, the young Loeb / Helena crew won their first victory.

28 September 2002

C-Airdream is the company's new concept car. This 2 + 2 coupe, unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show, is an opportunity for the company to continue its design developments further.

06 March 2003

Geneva Motor Show, presentation of the C2 Citroen Sport concept car. A joint development product of the Concept Cars Division and Citroen Sport.

08 September 2003

In Frankfurt, Citroen confirms its intentions with the production of the C2, a fine example of a small compact 3-door sedan for 4 people. Another star of the German salon is the C-Airlounge concept car, which once again showcases the company's creativity.

08 November 2003

After 13 podiums, Citroen wins the 2003 World Rally Championship. Sebastian Loeb is second in the Drivers' Standings.

2004

Launch of the millionth Xsara Picasso.

25 September 2004

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen is showcasing new products: the C4 hatchback and coupe, the new C5 sedan and C5 station wagon, and the C3 with Stop & Start, designed to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

17 October 2004

Sebastian Loeb - World Rally Champion

At the end of the rally in Corsica and without waiting for the end of the championship, Citroen wins the second world title in the constructors' championship. Sebastian Loeb, finishing second in the race, receives his first World Rally Championship title.

October 2005

First world presentation of the C-Sportlounge concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

08 October 2005

50th anniversary of the DS model. 1,600 DS cars take part in the Citroën birthday parade in Paris.

18 February 2006

CHAMPS NON RENSEIGNE (2006)

Citroen develops C-Triomphe concept car for China

06 September 2006

At the Paris Motor Show, Citroen unveils a new concept car that combines passion and practicality. The C-Métisse showcases new options designed exclusively for driving pleasure.

30 September 2006

Launch of the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, which is positioned above the Xsara Picasso in the model range.

March 2007

Citroen is unveiling the C-Crosser at the Geneva Motor Show, which is slated for market launch in July. The company's first SUV, designed for 5 + 2 seats, is characterized by high cross-country ability due to its dimensions and all-wheel drive.

27 September 2007

The company is completing its work on the preparation of the exhibition hall at 42 Champs Elysees. Inauguration of the exhibition hall C_42. For 6 months this iconic place receives over 1 million visitors.

18 October 2007

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Citroen unveils the C5 Airscape concept, a large convertible sedan that heralds a new C5 in the near future.

15 January 2008

At the Brussels Motor Show, the company unveils the new Citroen C5. The designers started their work from scratch to create a new generation car.

08 July 2008

The Picasso family joins the Citroen C3 Picasso, an innovative car that stands out for its daring style, innovative architecture and ingenuity.

10 September 2008

In the family car category of the company, the Citroen Némo Combi appears next to the Berlingo Multispace. Among other things, it is characterized by its compact external dimensions (3.96 m in length) and a spacious interior

October 2008

The motto of the Citroen booth at the 2008 Paris International Salon is Innovation, Sustainability and Creativity. In total, at least 34 cars, 11 new models and 8 concept cars are on display. Of note are the GTbyCitroen, 2CV Hermes, C-Cactus and Hypnos concept cars, as well as the Citroen C3 Pluriel Charleston, a hint of history.

Citroen C Quatre, a three-compartment car at the Shanghai Auto Show

Citroen is expanding its lineup in China and is unveiling two new vehicles at the Shanghai International Auto Show: the C-Quatre sedan and the new C5, which will be built in Wuhan.

October 2009

Révolte (Riot). With this self-explanatory name given to the latest concept car, Citroen shows how courage and progress are inherent in the company. This is a small urban super-elegant car that combines luxury with audacity.

October 2009

First showroom for the presentation of the new Citroen C3 in Frankfurt. Citroen is pursuing an ambitious goal: to renew the bestseller with over 2 million copies.

2010

14 January 2010

88th Brussels Motor Show. The company presents its new Citroen C-Zéro compact car. Thus, Citroen is expanding its presence in the small car segment by offering a 100% electric vehicle to facilitate mobility in urban areas.

18 January 2010

About a year after the presentation of DS Inside (Geneva 2009), Citroen unveils the DS3 and opens the new DS line, announced a year earlier. This line of special vehicles, created with the most radical solutions, complements the main range.

02 March 2010

Citroen unveils the Survolt at the Geneva Motor Show: destroying stereotypes and exciting the imagination. The company continues to move towards the development of electric car models, special and extraordinary, already brought to life with the release of the Revolte concept car a few months earlier.

18 April 2010

Metropolis concept car

Citroen unveils the Métropolis on the eve of the Shanghai showroom opening. The first concept car developed by the Shanghai Design Center, which was launched in 2008. This concept car will be on display at the Beijing Motor Show in October, as well as at the French Pavilion of the Shanghai World Expo

23 August 2010

Citroen Racing engineers are working on the DS3 Sport Chic to improve performance and performance. Redesigned engine, steering, chassis and new name - DS3 Racing.

15 September 2010

As with the new Citroen C5, launched in 2008 and the C3, launched in 2009, the new Citroen C4 showcases the company's innovations and technologies that will be used in the future refresh of the main lineup.

30 September 2010

Citroen unveils the Citroen Lacoste concept car at the Paris International Exhibition, the car of the future. This is a new image of the car that resists the stereotype of "more and more" and calls for a measured approach to life.

01 March 2011

Launch of the Citroen DS4. This 2nd car in the DS line features a new shape of the raised 4-door coupé, which combines dynamism and versatility to create a new driving experience.

01 March 2011

Citroen Multicity launch

Citroen becomes the first car company to offer the Multicity service, which covers all modes of transport, making travel much easier: www.multicity.citroen.fr.

18 April 2011

Following the Citroen DS3 and DS4 models, the Company presents the DS5 in Shanghai. Slender and daring, the Citroen DS5 fits perfectly into the DS line, while differentiating itself with its architecture, feel, style and sophistication.

27 July 2011

19th Citroen 2CV World Friends Meeting. On the anniversary of the end of production of the 2CV, more than 20,000 enthusiasts gather around 7,000 examples of this legendary car and its modifications (Ami 6 and 8, Dyane, Méhari ...)

September 2011

64th Motor Show in Frankfurt. With its Tubik concept car, which is similar to the Type H cars from the future, Citroen expresses its vision of tomorrow's mobility, where the journey is as important as the destination. The challenge for Tubik is the creation of a 9-seater vehicle that, in terms of design and equipment, will not be inferior to a modern sedan.

24 October 2011

Citroen has over a million fans across 70 Facebook communities around the world.

11 February 2012

Eighty years after the Yellow Raid Expedition, Xavier and Antonin, two ground engineers, set off on their first trip around the world in a Citroen C-Zéro electric car. 8 months, 25,000 kilometers, 17 countries for 250 euros in electricity bills!

01 April 2012

Citroen is expanding its range with the C4 Aircross. In a rapidly growing segment with this new model, Citroen is aiming to use the traditional compact SUV design, combined with innovative technology and contemporary design.

13 April 2012

Citroen Numero 9

Numero 9 (Number 9) is the name of the latest development of the company. It is a concept car, a new expression of the DS line, which reiterates the familiar, prestigious silhouette known in automotive history: the station wagon

June 2012

Expansion of the company: Citroen launches Citroen C4 Sedan and C-Elysée models one after another. These two saloons, consisting of three sections, are intended in particular for the rapidly developing world markets such as the Mediterranean countries, China and Russia.

October 2012

Citroen begins taking orders for the new DS3 Cabrio at the Paris International Motor Show. This convertible version of the Citroen DS3 combines all the advantages of the base version (design, driving feel and capacity) with the pleasure of driving a convertible. The roof can be opened at speeds up to 120 km / h.

Up

1919 was a historic year for automotive Europe. It was in this year that the first production car - Citroen model "A", came out of the gates of the Parisian factory on the Javel embankment. Meanwhile, industrial France, but that there is France, almost all of Europe has long known products manufactured under the trademark of two inverted V letters. Even then, few people remembered that this is exactly what helicoidal gears look like. For everyone, this logo was associated exclusively with the name of Andre Citroen.

Helical gears. Photo: Citroen

Andre Citroën was born in 1878 into a family of a rather successful businessman. But when the future automaker was six years old, his father, co-owner of a large gem-cutting company, committed suicide. However, the fortune left by his father allowed Citroen to graduate from the Polytechnic Institute, after which he began working at the enterprise of his friends for the production of parts for steam locomotives. In 1905, he becomes a full-fledged partner of this production. In 1990, André visits Poland. There was a small factory owned by Citroen's relatives. Among other equipment, large gears with V-shaped teeth were cast at this plant. Knowing the urgent need for such gears, Citroen decides to start producing them in its homeland. And a little later, the helicoidal gears produced at this enterprise became known practically throughout Europe. The Russian patent for the production of gears, bought in due time, whose engagement in the form of a chevron immediately became a brand, brought Citroen not only huge profits, but also wide popularity.

Shop for the production of shells. Photo: Citroen

The name of the young entrepreneur became almost a legend, and already in 1908 Andre came to the Mors automobile plant as an anti-crisis director - the business of the enterprise immediately began to go up the hill.

The First World War was another leap forward in the career of a young specialist. Lieutenant of the 2nd heavy artillery regiment of the 4th French army André Citroen was in the Argonne sector of the front line. With his own eyes, he saw how, one after another, attempts to go on the offensive were choking. The reason for this was the catastrophic shortage of ammunition. In January 1915, General Louis Bacquet, chief of the artillery service at the French Ministry of Defense, received a letter signed by the artillery captain André Citroën. The general could not believe his eyes. André Citroën undertook to build and equip a plant for the production of 75-mm shrapnel shells within four months. These were shells of the caliber most demanded at the front.

The very first Citroen model "A" car at the factory building. Photo: Citroen

In the shortest possible time, an enterprise grows up on the banks of the Seine, producing more ammunition than all other enterprises combined.

The cannonade of the First World War has not yet subsided, and Citroen is already keen on the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating its own car. Huge finances earned in the war make it possible to attract the most highly qualified personnel to this project. In 1912, he visits the Ford factories and gets acquainted with the assembly line organization of labor. In January 1919, advertisements appeared in all newspapers in France that a completely new car would be on the market at a price of only 7,250 francs. No other manufacturer could offer such a low price then.

André Citroen 1918

The announcements had the effect of a bomb. In two weeks, the plant received about 16 thousand applications. And later, this stream turned into a flood. The Citroen plant produced 100 cars a day. True, there was only one model - "A", but it was Citroen, unlike other European automakers, who transferred the car from the category of luxury to a means of transportation. After four years of production, the number of cars leaving the factory gates has grown to 300 per day.

Being a far-sighted man, Andre Citroën understood that to release does not mean to sell. In this connection, a rather large part of the profit went to advertising. And sometimes she worked for a very distant future. So, in particular, he established the production of toy cars under his logo. An exact replica of a real car brought future buyers into indescribable delight, and no one had any doubts about which brand the kid would choose when he grew up.

Autumn 1922. André Citroën at the Sahara rally map. Photo: Citroen

And by today's standards, Andre had just overwhelming advertising projects. At one time, a photograph of the Eiffel Tower with a luminous Citroen inscription went around almost the whole world. Many of what Citroen came up with to promote its goods, we use to this day. For example, to ensure that the brand name of the Citroen factories was constantly in front of the eyes of drivers, signs and road signs crowned with a "double chevron" were installed throughout France. Today you will not surprise anyone with advertising on road signs. Advertising rallies, mailing of gramophone records with advertising recordings, and even inscriptions in the sky, all of this was tested by Andre Citroën long before today's creatives.

In 1933, Citroen decides to completely rebuild its factories, and five months later, an auto giant with a total area of \u200b\u200b55 thousand square meters appears on the site of the former enterprise. Its production facilities allow it to fully meet the needs of France for cars. The capacity of the enterprise at that time was simply phenomenal.

October 1931. Andre Citroen and Henry Ford

However, often the financial capabilities of Citroen did not keep pace with his ideas, and therefore almost all projects were made by him with the money of investors. The financial crisis of the thirties ultimately hit car sales hard and new investors refused to invest in Citroen's promising projects. After many unsuccessful attempts to find sources of funding, Citroën declared itself bankrupt. He died in March 1935 of stomach cancer.

“If the design is good, the price doesn't matter,” said André Citroën. This phrase became the meaning of his whole life and it is thanks to this talented engineer and organizer that we still have the opportunity to contemplate on our streets some of the most advanced cars, both in terms of design and technology.

Citroen plant 1935 Photo: Citroen

Citroen after Citroen
Shortly before the death of André Citroen, the company mastered the release of a truly revolutionary car in those days. Monocoque body, independent torsion bar suspension and perhaps the most revolutionary innovation - front-wheel drive. So in 1934 the 7CV Traction Avant was born.

Thanks to its innovative design, the machine has been at the forefront of technical progress for a long time, which allowed it to hold out on the conveyor right up to 1956. By the way, it was thanks to her that the company subsequently managed to recover relatively quickly after the crisis. But that was later. And in 1935, the country's government forces André Citroen to transfer a controlling stake to Michelin. Thus, the government of the country is trying to save the "Joint-stock company cars of Andre Citroen" from bankruptcy.

However, it was not possible to avoid losses. So, as a result of the crisis, about 8,000 workers were dismissed from Citroen's enterprises, and an assembly plant in Italy was also closed. However, the company remained afloat and continued to produce cars.

The first half of the fateful forties was occupied by the war. Naturally, there could be no question of any development of production here. The maximum that the company was capable of was the release of the 7CV Traction Avant already delivered to the conveyor. However, if by the end of 1945, 9324 cars were produced, then already in 1946 they left the assembly line 24443 - the company was revived. Maintaining tradition, the company's management never stops experimenting. The result of one of these experiments is the reconstruction of the Levallois plant. There, separate work areas are organized for the assembly of engines. Later, at the same plant, the production of another legendary long-liver car - Traction Avant - 2 CV, popularly nicknamed "Duck's Tail", was launched.

This little car was not beautiful, it did not have a powerful engine, but being cheap even at that time, it won popularity for many years not only in France and all over the world. The car was produced until 1990, i.e. actually 42 years and during this time has not undergone significant structural changes.

The mid-fifties and again the company brings out something unseen before. The factory in Asnier, which has just begun, is specialized exclusively in the manufacture of hydraulics. Such a narrow specialization of the plant was not chosen by chance. Even before the start of its construction, it was known that the parts that will be produced at this enterprise will primarily be installed on the new Citroen model, namely on the DS-19 - a car with an extraordinary appearance and a creeping fit.

In addition to the futuristic appearance, the DS-19 had a number of technological innovations, such as the use of aluminum and plastic alloys in the production of parts, disc brakes, power steering and brakes. However, the main highlight of the car was the hydraulic system, which controls the operation of the adaptive hydropneumatic suspension. It provided not only a smooth ride, but also made it possible to raise or lower the car body.

The sixties are becoming years of active growth for the company. An agreement is concluded with the Yugoslav company Tomos, an agreement on the production of the famous 2CV at its facilities. In Brittany. The release of the Ami6 model has been launched.

By the way, this plant was the first on which not only assembly but also stamping of body parts was established.

In addition to Europe, the company opens production facilities in Canada, Chile, Africa. At the same time, Citroen acquires a controlling stake in Maserati. An agreement is concluded with the German company NSU-Motorenwerke for the development of a new engine, the production of which should be established at the Comobil joint production facility in Geneva.

The seventies, after a triumphant march around the world, again became difficult for Citroen. The outbreak of the oil crisis led to the fact that the technically innovative, extravagant Citroens again began to be poorly traded. The reason is simple - the cars consumed a lot of fuel. As a result, the company started talking about bankruptcy again. Only the alliance could save the company. As a result, it was decided to merge the companies "Automobiles Citroen" and "Automobiles Peugeot". The goal of this decision was to create a large industrial group capable of becoming as competitive as possible on the international market. A little later, the holding company PSA Peugeot-Citroen Alliance was created, which included Citroen SA and Peugeot SA. And although Citroen entered the holding on an independent basis, it was not possible to preserve its exceptional individuality. The first fruit of this alliance's collaboration is the Visa model.

Taking the 104 model as a basis, Citroen equipped it with a 652 cc two-cylinder engine, supplemented by an air-cooled system. The revision towards the companion was the modification of this car, the main difference of which was the more powerful four-cylinder 1.1-liter engine produced by Peugeot.

And a little earlier in 1975, with the end of the production of the DS model, the factory on the Javel embankment was closed by the presidential car, as it was then called. Over the entire period of operation of this enterprise, more than three million cars have left its gates.

The eighties become for the company not only the years of production improvement. In addition, a rebranding is taking place. Now Citroen uses white and red instead of blue and yellow colors in the logo. In addition, the head office moves to the outskirts of Paris, namely to Neuilly-sur-Seine. Increasingly, the company began to resort to computer simulations and eventually acquired the most powerful supercomputer at that time, the Cray XMP / 14. Total investments in the development of the concern over the years amounted to 7.5 billion francs, including 1.2 billion for development and research. Investments were not long in coming and the consumer received such a model as XM.

At the end of 1984, the assignment for the development of the Y30 project was approved - a car that was supposed to replace the Citroen CX. Three different studios took part in the design project competition: two of PSA's own bureaus and Bertone. The Bertone variant was accepted for production. And five years later, Citroen XM made it to the assembly line: sales began in May 1989.

In the early nineties, Citroen presented another new product, namely the ZX model. By the way, it was with this model that Citroen officially returned to motorsport by creating the ZX Rally Raid rally team. Taking care of quality improvement, the company pays much attention to employee training. As a result, in 1992 the Citroen Institute opened its doors, whose main task is to improve the qualifications of the company's employees. Consumers are not deprived of attention during this period. Such models as Citroen Xantia, Saxo, Xsara, Evasion enter the market.

At the Geneva Motor Show, the Citroen C6 Lignage is presented, which is a prototype of the future flagship.

Pluriel concept debuts in Frankfurt. The Xsara Picasso is launched on the market in December 1999.

Zero starts for Citroen with triumph - Citroen C5 is presented at the Paris Motor Show.

The Citroen C5 was available as a hatchback and station wagon. In addition, it was equipped with the latest Hydractive III hydraulic suspension with Sport and Comfort modes and quite powerful engines, then as a V-shaped "six" with a volume of 3.0 liters and a capacity of 210 hp. and a 2.2 liter diesel engine with 136 hp. It is with this new model that the concern returns to its usual designation of models, namely alphanumeric.

A little later, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Citroen C3 and the C-Crosser concept are presented - a new word in car creation.

At the same time, the digging does not forget about consumers either. So the warranty period for all Citroen cars is now 24 months. For the first time, a new robotic gearbox appears within the PSA concern - SensoDrive. Combining the advantages of mechanics and automatic, it first found its place under the hood of the C3 with a 1.6 16V engine.

2006 marked the start of production of the C4 Picasso line. The seven-seater C4 Picasso was first presented at the Paris Motor Show.

Built on the basis of Citroen C4 and Peugeot 307. A little later, the manufacturer produces a five-seater modification of the model.

In addition to the capacious trunk, the car is distinguished by a rather original exterior, created by rounded lines.

In 2007, the company's production program also includes the first crossover - Citroen C-Crosser.

The seven-seater C-Crosser was aggregated with a base turbocharged 2.2 liter diesel engine with a capacity of 156 hp. However, the crossover is equipped with a 170 hp gasoline engine. (2, 4 l).

Citroën's journey has been full of bright ups and painful falls. However, this once did not prevent the company from remaining distinctive. And the new models are a clear confirmation of this. Take the new DS line, whose success in the sixties was overwhelming.

For the first time the "logo", as it is now commonly called, with a "double chevron" appeared in the car market in 1913, when the workshop of Andre Citroen and his friends began to supply gearboxes to several car manufacturers.
Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, Citroën acquired a piece of land on the Javelle embankment southwest of central Paris. There he built the most modern ammunition factory by the standards of the time, equipped with the best industrial equipment. During the First World War, this plant produced up to 55 thousand shells and cartridges per day. Serious and very profitable business, but only in wartime. However, the production of ammunition turned out to be not only a way to make good money - on this "material" the technologies of mass production of cars were honed.
In 1912, Citroen, as they say, visited the United States for general development, where in Detroit he was struck by the Ford plant, which produced 150,000 copies of the now legendary Model T that year - 71 (!) Times more than Renault, which was leading in France. Until 1917, about ten vehicles from various manufacturers were tested on the highway between Roanne and Quay de Javelle in normal traffic conditions.
Secretly from everyone, Andre Citroen tested and disassembled and at his factory such famous American cars as Buick, Nash, Studebaker, while studying the possibility of mass production, which soon began. In fact, the first CITROEN became at the same time the first mass-produced car in Europe.
It’s unbelievable, but true: already in the early 1920s, 300 CITROENs rolled off the assembly line of the enterprise on the Javel embankment every day - in those years the number for Europe was incredible. And although Mr. Citroen after his return from America, when his factories were still producing ammunition, and he began preparations for the production of cars, about his desire to establish the production of cars, 1919 is considered to be the date of foundation of the Citroen Joint Stock Company (Societe anonyme Andre Citroen) , at the end of which the plant on the Quai de Javel was already producing up to 30 cars a day. As his goal, Mr. Citroen designated the mass production of inexpensive cars and for this, for the first time in Europe, he applied Henry Ford's "in-line" (conveyor) method.
1921 - Citroën creates a dedicated spare parts warehouse for car owners.
1922 - The production of cars begins at the rented Clement Bayard plant in Levallois near Paris. The production of spare parts, accessories, etc. is also being established there.
citroen_5 cv1923 - The plant in Saint-Charles, 15th arrondissement of Paris, goes into operation. He starts making gearboxes for 5CV. At the main plant, on the Javel embankment, the first conveyor is installed, which allows the production of 100 cars per day. The first Citroen Cars Ltd. subsidiary is registered in London.
1924 - Production begins at the Saint-Ouen factories - model B12 and Epinettes - springs. André Citroen begins to develop an international network for the sale of his cars and creates subsidiaries in Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan, Geneva, Copenhagen, etc. 300 cars are assembled per day.
1925 - Citroen continues to organize its dealer network and begins serious advertising campaigns for the first time among the automotive companies. From this year until 1934, an illumination with his name will be lit on the citroen_b_12Effel Tower, the creation of which took 250,000 lamps and 60 kilometers of wires. The total number of dealers reaches 5000 this year! Citroen became the first company in Europe to have its own dealer network already in the 1920s. 1926 - Citroen adopts the Taylor method, whereby each plant will specialize in a particular product. The plant in Grenelle, 15th arrondissement of Paris, begins operation. Citroen publishes for the first time its "standard" service and repair manuals for dealers, as well as instructions and lists for replacing spare parts. parts. At the same time, the first assembly plant began work in Belgium, the second in England, and a little later in Germany and Italy.
1927 - Another plant in Gutenberg, Paris, established for the production of engines and gearboxes.
1930 - The Clichy plant is built. In Norway, Oslo, another subsidiary of Norks Citroen A / S is registered.
1931 - The Citroën Transport Joint Stock Company (Societe anonyme des Transports Citroen) is established.
citroen_traction_avant1933 - The global economic crisis has taken a heavy toll on the French automotive industry, but Andre Citroen remains true to his principles. Plans are in the making of 1,000 vehicles a day and the launch of an all-new "traction avant" front-wheel drive car designed by Andre Lefebvre and his team.
1934 - Disproportionately large for the period of the "Great Depression" financial costs for the creation and release of Traction Avant, led Citroen to a loss of confidence among credit companies and the loss of working capital. The first financial turmoil hits CITROEN in February 1934. Thanks to the intervention of the Banque de France, commercial banks provide the company with a loan of 10 million francs, but the debt is growing. Between April and September, the company has to pay off its previous debts of 830 million francs to creditors. Claims of creditors begin to come to the courts, and their number is growing like a snowball.
The situation is critical. In these conditions, in order to prevent bankruptcy, the French government approached Michelin, the main creditor, with a proposal to take the company under its financial control.
From that moment on, Andre Citroën retired and retired to his home. The shocks of recent years have greatly affected him and he fell seriously ill.
1935 - In January 1935, Citroen is asked, or rather, forced to transfer a controlling stake in the company and finally removed from business. On January 31, he resigns as president and sole manager of the Andre Citroen Automobiles Joint Stock Company. Power in the plant passes to a committee of three managers: Pierre Michelin, Paul Franzen and the representative of the suppliers of the metallurgical industry, Etienne de Castel.
Citroen retired in his home, he was no longer seen at the factory - he did not want to play secondary roles where he always was the first. In March 1935, Citroen was taken to the hospital with an aggravated ulcer, where he died on July 3 of the same year.
And the company named after him was forced to close an assembly plant in Italy due to new customs duties. In the period from 1919 to 1934, Citroën achieved a leading position in the production of automobiles. He was the first in Europe to publish a repair manual for cars. This company came up with the idea of \u200b\u200bproviding customers with a one-year warranty and free maintenance during this time, as well as selling cars on credit. Citroen has perfected its market research methodology and organized refresher courses for its car dealers.
At the same time, they showed concern for the brand's image, which was already displayed on 185 thousand cars. From 1924 to 1934, CITROEN advertisements shone on the Eiffel Tower. Citroen owns the invention of "industrial tourism": he opened the doors of his factories to the public and organized guided tours of the shops. Also, a system of quick delivery of workers to the plant by buses was created, a car insurance company was founded, branches were opened in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden and Poland. The last and, perhaps, the most important thing that the company is famous for is a series of revolutions that CITROEN made in the world of cars in the twentieth century, releasing almost every model. In 1934, CITROEN presented a fundamentally new model "7cv", now known all over the world as the TA, or Traction Avant (which literally means "Front-wheel drive" in Russian). Thus began the era of front-wheel drive vehicles.
In fact, until 1940, nothing special happened in the company. And this year a plant on the Javel embankment was bombed and a plant in Belgium was partially destroyed. But still, even during the war, the production of cars did not stop.
In 1947, the restoration of factories after the war was completed and subsidiaries were created in Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Sweden (Stockholm).
Citroen 2cv in 1948 - The Asnieres plant near Paris, acquired from Automobiles Laffly, begins operation. The Levallois plant completely switches to 2CV production.
1952 - 2CV and van H begin to be assembled in Belgium. A trading company, Citroen Cars Corporation, was established in the United States, and another in Morocco.
1953 - The new plant in Rennes-la Barre Thomas, Brittany, goes into operation. Citroën begins to "decentralize" production. An agreement was signed with Panhard for a partial merger of the trading network.
1954 - The Asnieres plant begins production of hydraulic systems, primarily for the DS, and since then becomes the main supplier of these systems to all Citroen vehicles.
1956 - DS assembly begins in Belgium citroen DS
1957 - Launch of 2CV vans in Cambodia. Citroën and SCEMM, created in 1950 with Citroën's participation, sign an agreement to establish a plant in Mulhouse. The first computer was installed in the company's spare parts department.
1958 - Citroën - Spain opens a plant in Port-au-Vigo and starts producing 2CVs. On October 9, Naberzhnaya Javel was officially renamed Quay André Citroën.
1959 - Agreements signed with South African companies Atlanta Industries (Pty) Ltd and Stanley Motors Ltd to assemble DS.
1960 - As part of an intergovernmental agreement between Yugoslavia and France, Citroën signs a 2CV contract with Tomos. Assembly of 2CV and Ami begins in Argentina.
citroen AMI 1961 - The plant in Rennes-la Janais, Brittany, begins production of the Ami 6, and in Nonterre, near Paris, the former Simca plant begins to manufacture body parts.
1962 - Trading companies are established in Canada and Austria.
1963 - Purchased the Caen plant. An agreement was signed with Sedica (Madagascar) for the assembly of 2CV and 3CV. Chile established a subsidiary for the sale and assembly of 2CV. Type H begins to be collected in Holland.
1964 - Production of 2CVs begins in Portugal at the Mangualde plant. An agreement was signed with the German company NSU Motorenwerke on the creation of a rotary piston engine and its production at the Comobil joint venture (Geneva). The Cimos plant (mainly Dayne) begins operations in Yugoslavia.
1967 - Citroen signs an agreement with Berliet. A subsidiary company "Comotor" is created in Luxembourg for the production of rotary piston engines (Wankel engine). One of them will be installed on the M35 prototype in 1969.
1968 - The Citroen Group of Companies begins reorganization. The newly created Citroen SA holding now controls the activities of Citroen, Berliet and Panhard. The holding structure contains more than 20 subsidiaries, including Societe anonyme Automobiles Citroen - production and Societe Commerciale Citroen - sales. Citroen signs a technical and commercial cooperation agreement with Maserati. Agreements are signed between Total on technical cooperation and with Fiat to establish a holding company (PARDEVI), where 49% belongs to Fiat and 51% - Michelin.
1969 - The Metz-Borny plant begins operations, replacing the Sant-Charles plant. Maserati develops a 6-cylinder engine for the future prestigious Citroen car. A plant in Iran begins assembling a number of models. As part of the agreement with Fiat, Autobianchi products are being sold through the Citroen commercial network, and vice versa in Italy. An international car rental network, Citer, is created.
1971 - Citroen signs agreements with Inda SA (Paraguay), Quinatar SA (Uruguay) and Aveles Alfaro (Ecuador) for the assembly of 2CV and 3CV. In Steinz, begins to work as a subsidiary of SOGAMM (Societe d "Outillage General Applique aux Moules et Modeles), a former department located at the Clichy plant, tasked with creating prototypes, components, quality standards, etc. .d.
citroen GS 1972 - In Yugoslavia, Citroen and Tomos sign a production agreement at the Simos plant for the 2CV, Dyane, Ami 8, GS and accessories. Subsidiary established in Johannesburg. A contract is signed with STIA for the assembly of 2CV and 3CV. With the Globus Import and Export Company from Iceland to supply various models.
1973 - The plant in Aulnay-sous-Bois is put into operation (instead of the plant on the Javelle embankment). At that time, one of the most modern in equipment. Fiat divested of the joint venture and returns its 49% to Michelin, but continues to partner with Citroën in some endeavors.
So 1974 came on. Probably one of the most significant. Michelin and Peugeot have decided to merge Citroen Automobiles and Peugeot Automobiles. The aim of this agreement was to create a group that would be competitive in the international market. Berliet withdrew from the Citroen group of companies and entered into an agreement with Saviem, one of the companies included in Renault. After the discontinuation of DS production, the plant on the Javel embankment, which had been operating since 1919, was closed. 1976 - The Peugeot Group acquired 89.95% of Citroen's shares and created the PSA holding company, which included Citroen SA and Peugeot SA. Citroën entered as an independent department, which retained its brand of passenger cars. In the same year, an agreement was concluded on the production of Citroen cars in Romania, with the aim of selling them in Eastern Europe.
1978 - The Orence plant begins operations in Spain. SMAE (Societe Mecanique Automobile de I "Est) is created in France as a subsidiary of Citroën and Peugeot. A computerized spare parts center is opened to support the Citroën service network. Visa collection begins in Belgium. Finally, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën sign an agreement to develop a new light van.
1979 - Tremery gasoline and diesel engine plant launched. It was created on the basis of new principles of organization of production and management. A new computer center for design and production has begun at the St. Ouen plant. Agreements were signed in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and the Central African Republic.
1980 - Factories in Meudon near Paris and SMAN (Societe Mecanique Automobile du Nord) in Valenciennes begin work. Factory in Belgium closes.
1982 - For 68 years the company was headquartered on the Quai Javel, but this year it moves to a new location in Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris.
1984 - The Oltcit plant begins operations in Romania, built on the basis of the 1976 Franco-Romanian agreement.
1985 - Citroen changes colors. Now, instead of blue-yellow, white and red are used. In December, the factories in Clichy and Nantra shut down.
1986 - After 6 years of financial losses, the prerequisites for "recovery" appear. Citroen introduces Plan Mercure, which aims to dramatically improve the quality of production throughout the entire value chain. The principle of "complete customer satisfaction" is put at the forefront.
1987 - Citroen acquires the Cray XMP / 14 supercomputer. Announced 5 year corrosion protection guarantee. At the Tremery plant, assembly of the XU2 gasoline engine has begun on new lines. These lines allowed the production of 70 different types of engines, including 16 valve ones. citroen_zx
1989 - Citroën rebuilds its Rennes-La Janais plant for the final assembly of the XM. Investment in development amounted to 7.5 billion francs, including 1.2 billion for development and research. The dealer network created together with Mazda begins to sell Citroen cars in Japan.
1990 - Citroen officially returns to motorsport with the ZX Rally Raid in July. In December, a contract was signed with the Chinese corporation SAW. ZX enters the Chinese market.
1991 - The ZX makes its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Citroen announces several programs aimed at improving the quality of work and the qualifications of its employees. Another Cray starts working in the Citroen office. On October 14, Jacques Calvet unveils the Citela electric car that REALLY works.
1992 - At the beginning of the year, a new press section is commissioned at the site in Aulnay (6.420 sq. M. 2 pcs. -400 tons and 1400 tons). Basically, body parts for the ZX are made there. In July, the Citroen Institute was opened to improve the qualifications of the company's employees.
citroen_envasion1994 - The Antares project has been launched, which aims to bring Citroen factories to the top three in their categories in the world. Representative offices in Poland and Hungary are opened in February. In the same month, Xantia wins the 23rd International Prize. Evasion appears - a product of cooperation between Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen.
1995 - In January another project was presented - Magelan. The goal is to sell 100,000 vehicles outside Europe in 1997 and 200,000 in 2000. In April SAME begins to release the ML transmission, replacing the ME. At the same time, a new 16-valve 1.7-liter gasoline engine and a compact diesel engine for Xantia are presented. The dealer network has 900 points of sale in 77 countries of the world. In September, an agreement is signed to release AX with the Malaysian company Proton under their trademark.
citroen SAXO 1996-1997 - Production of cars increases. The emergence of SAXO and Xsara. In Poland, SAXO went on sale in November and sold 900 units in one month. Citroen opens its WWW - server. Another agreement is signed with Proton. In December 1997, a licensing agreement was signed for the production of Xsara at the Susa plant (Uruguay).
1998 onwards - In January, a new slogan was introduced - "two brands, one group", which, in the opinion of the management, more accurately characterizes the changes in PSA. At the same time, an agreement was signed to create an assembly plant in Porto Real in Brazil, designed to strengthen the position of companies in the market of Central and South America. Xsara Auto PC was created in partnership with Microsoft and Clarion. The President of Uruguay opened a new line at the assembly plant where the production of the Xsara began. In Poland, the production of C15 began at the Nysa plant. Berlingo is harvested in Argentina.
1999 - the millionth Xantia rolled off the assembly line in Rennes and the Olney plant produced the millionth Saxo. Historic record - more than 1 million Citroen cars were sold for the first time. The HDi engine is standard on the Xsara. Launch of the joint development of PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault and Siemens - an adaptive automatic transmission (first installed on Xsara 1.6). The long-awaited premiere was marked by Citroen in the luxury segment, the C6 Lignage, a prototype of the future flagship, was presented in Geneva. Pluriel made its debut in Frankfurt, the name of this model can be translated as "plural", indeed this concept car is one in many faces, it can be a pickup, spider, hatchback and even a convertible. In December 1999, the Xsara Picasso was launched on the market with a unique advertising campaign based on the work of the great Picasso (the Robot video was highly appreciated by European audiences and experts). Citroen Representative Office opens in Russia.
2000 - since February, Jumper and Berlingo are equipped with HDi engines. The second generation Xsara is launched, with new 1.6 110 hp engines. and 2.0 137 hp. Supermodel Claudia Schiffer became the face of the advertising company. Another Citroen record - sales growth was 13.4%. C5, new model, new alphanumeric index, presented at the Paris Motor Show. A completely new suspension system Hydractive 3+, a wide range of engines, a spacious and comfortable interior, a wide range of options, allowed to name the advertising campaign - "100% useful technologies". For the first time for Citroen, this car was equipped with a Tiptronic automatic transmission with manual switching. The Berlingo has a Modutop roof with additional overhead compartments, a fan and five glass windows. The Osmose concept car is presented, a true city car with sliding doors, compact and manoeuvrable.
citroen XANTIA 2001 - growth continues, Citroen increases sales for the fifth consecutive year. 139,000 C5s were sold, sales of the Xsara Picasso grew 56%. Olny-sous-Bois is home to the Conservatoire, a 6,700 m3 museum that houses 300 historic Citroen models and concept cars. The Xsara WRC (4 races) debuts on the world rally tracks, with Sebastian Loeb being its first driver. New Citroen products are presented in Geneva: C5 station wagon, two new engines for the C5: HPi gasoline engine (direct injection, 2.0 liters 143 hp), 2.2 HDi engine (138 hp, particulate filter) as well as an interesting option for the Xsara Picasso - a panoramic glass roof. The C3, the beauty and hope of the brand, is presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. On a new platform, with a phenomenal array of options, a high roof and a spacious boot, the C3 became the company's new best-seller. At the same show, C-Crosser was presented, a new word in the creation of automobiles. All-wheel drive, with all steering wheels, it did not have the traditional pedals and steering column. The control was carried out by a special steering wheel, which was connected to the engine, brakes and wheels only by wires. This eliminates the cumbersome controls in the cabin (unsafe in an accident) and makes the controls easier.
2002 - sales growth was 6.3%. The warranty period for all Citroen cars is now 24 months (there is also a program that allows you to double this period). Sales of the new Jumper and Citroen C3 began (185,000 cars were sold in a year instead of the planned 150,000, the C3 received many awards). For the first time, a new automated gearbox, SensoDrive, appears within the PSA concern. Combining the advantages of manual transmission and automatic transmission, it has found its place under the hood of the C3 with a 1.6 16V engine. At the end of the year, the new Berlingo was introduced, with a focus on safety and exterior / interior design. The C3 Pluriel debuts, capturing audiences with its versatility and winning the Convertible of the Year award. The C8 appears on the market, the successor to the Evasion minivan, also created in cooperation with Fiat and Peugeot. The C-Airdream concept showcased at the Paris show, featuring design developments from Citroen, was also of interest to the fixed hub.
2004 - Three major events for Citroen:

Double in the World Rally Championship (Constructors' Cup and Sebastian Loeb's first place in the individual);
- launch into the C5-II series;
-appearance in the sale of C4.

Both newcomers received excellent press and best marks from EuroNCAP (the C5 was the best of all the cars tested). C2, C3, C3 Pluriel sold around the world with a circulation of 518,000 cars (of which 150,000 C2 and 336,000 C3). The C-Airlounge, a prototype for future Citroen models, is presented in Geneva. The C3 XTR, an outdoor vehicle, went on sale in March. The Xsara Picasso was extremely popular in 2004 thanks to the new 1.6 HDi 110 hp turbodiesel engine, by the end of the year the cumulative sales of the Xsara Picasso reached 1 million vehicles (of which 220,000 were sold in 2004). The longevity record was set by the commercial model Citroen C15, produced since 1984. By the end of the year, Xsara's cumulative sales reached 1.5 million vehicles.
2005 - the widest model in the history of Citroen, from mini C1 to flagship C6. Both of these vehicles were unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, generating great public response. C1 is interesting for city dwellers, for whom compact size, efficiency and cost of operation are in the first place. In addition, the safety level (4 stars from EuroNCAP) and high consumer properties put this car on a new level in the supermini class. The C6 won the sympathy of Europeans back in 1999, when the C6 Lignage concept car was presented, which went into series with minor changes. The C6 is interesting primarily for its technology and excellent safety level (including a record 4 stars from EuroNCAP for pedestrian protection). The C6 is the embodiment of Citroen's new hydropneumatic suspension - the “flying carpet”. Even more functional, it allows you to raise passenger comfort to an unprecedented level. Sales record: more than 1 million 395 thousand vehicles were sold worldwide. The European market share increased to 6.7%, in France Citroen won 14% of customers. A record year for Citroën in Germany, with an increase of 20.3%, sales were 80,000 vehicles. For the third consecutive year, Citroen wins the WRC Constructors' Cup, Sebastian Loeb wins his second championship title, and Dani Sordo wins the JWRC in the C2 Super 1600.

Our Citroen-C4 Sedan completed the 60-hour marathon, showing itself very well ( ZR, 2013, No. 8 ). Now we decided to compare it with its analogue - a hatchback, released in France. This version is sold now with a 120 hp gasoline engine. or with a 110-horsepower diesel engine (616,900–899,000 rubles). The sedan is also offered with petrol units with 115 or 150 hp. (579,000–853,000 rubles). Our sedan is just 150 hp.

The possibilities of engines and gearboxes (with a 120-horsepower engine there is a 4-speed "automatic", with a 150-horsepower - a 6-speed one) in this case we were interested in the last place. Now we will explore something else - the design differences between related cars and, of course, the build quality.

LEARN MORE

1. On our copy for some reason there is no front bonnet seal

Forgot? Or not provided? But the Russian car has soundproofing on the engine compartment lid.

2. Salons

The differences between the salons are mainly due to the trim levels (the sedan is richer). The materials, workmanship and fit of the parts were equally appreciated by the pickiest of our experts.

3. The location of the seat heating wheels under the climate unit on a Russian car is more convenient than a traditional French one - on an armchair

4. French seats have more fashionable and comfortable headrests. But the rear sofa of the sedan is noticeably more spacious. Its base is 100 mm longer

5. The trunk of the sedan also wins. According to factory data, it has 440 liters, in a hatchback with an unfolded sofa - 360 liters. According to our measurements, 404 and 364 liters, respectively.

6. Different markings of the springs due to the characteristics of the suspensions

Cars with a 150-horsepower engine are stiffer than those of a 120-horsepower. 0.5mm thicker and front stabilizer bar. But on the go, the difference in car behavior is minimal. The ground clearance of both cars is excellent and, according to our measurements, the same: under the steel protection 160 mm.

7. One of the few flaws of the Russian car is an incorrectly laid wiring harness near the expansion tank of the cooling system. Not a crime, but disorder.

There are advantages and disadvantages in the designs and trim levels of both cars. But the quality of workmanship of parts and assembly is almost identical. Even the most meticulous experts did not find any serious flaws. Well, of course, we will talk about the features of the operation of the Kaluga sedan regularly.

Serial assembly of Citroen C4 cars. According to the General Director of the Russian representative office of Citroen Henri Ribot, the model produced at the plant was adapted to the road and climatic conditions of our country. In particular, she received a retuned suspension and a ground clearance increased by ten millimeters.

Especially for the domestic market, Citroen has prepared an Optima package, which includes climate control, 16-inch wheels, side airbags, curtain airbags, and leather steering wheel trim. Optima prices start at 590 thousand rubles, and the cheapest version - Confort - will cost 559 thousand rubles. In addition, this car is attractive because it can be purchased under a recycling program for old cars.

Meanwhile, Russian buyers are more interested in whether Russian-made cars differ in quality from foreign analogues? We tried to figure it out during a visit to the plant.

Were not mistaken with the timing

The plans of the PSA Peugeot Citroen alliance to build a plant in Russia became [known] (/ news / 2006/06/06 / psarus) in 2006. At the same time, [Russian officials] (/ news / 2006/09/06 / psarus) of various levels and [representatives] (/ news / 2007/05/03 / psaru) of the alliance said that the new enterprise could be located in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Pskov, Moscow region, Saratov region and the Republic of Tatarstan.

The exact location was not known during the [signing] (/ news / 2007/06/10 / peugeot) agreement between PSA and the Ministry of Economic Development in June 2007. The French were satisfied with the territory that the Nizhny Novgorod region could provide, but the regional authorities soon [refused] (/ news / 2007/12/27 / psa) to cooperate, considering that PSA requests are changing "with alarming frequency and regularity." What exactly frightened Nizhny Novgorod was not reported, however, the government of the Kaluga region was loyal to the same requests, where the construction of the plant began in June 2008.

A month earlier, in May, Mitsubishi, which planned to assemble Outlander SUVs on site, [announced] (/ news / 2008/05/19 / joint) about its participation in the construction of the plant. In early 2009, when car markets around the world were showing a sharp decline, the Japanese decided to temporarily withdraw from their participation in this venture. Meanwhile, PSA did not intend to deviate from its plans and during 2009 continued construction of the plant, [promising] (/ news / 2009/02/09 / psaru) that from the second half of 2010 the enterprise will start producing cars.

As a result, the French managed to complete the construction ahead of schedule. And they did it at an extremely successful moment for automakers: the car market in Russia just began to revive. The main reason for this, of course, was the state [program] (/ articles / 2010/06/04 / util) recycling old cars, but analysts in March began to note an increase in demand for those cars that were not covered by the program.

Already in March 2010, the PCMA Rus plant started a test assembly of cars, and since April the first serial Peugeot 308 has left the assembly line (/ news / 2010/04/23 / psa).

In five hours

Currently, the PCMA Rus plant, which assembles two models - Peugeot 308 and Citroen C4, operates in screwdriver assembly mode. Here, from the French PSA plant in Mulhouse, car kits come with a ready-made body and a fully equipped interior. Front axle with engine, rear axle and transmission are delivered separately in wooden boxes.

After a batch of bodies arrives at the plant, they are inspected for damage that may have occurred during transportation. The defective cars are sent back to France, the rest are sent to the warehouse, from where they are delivered to the conveyor. Moreover, in winter, the bodies and engines must stand in a heated room for at least three hours so that their temperature equals the temperature in the workshop.

On the conveyor, the car goes through several stages, each of which takes workers no more than five minutes: first, the front axle with the engine and the transmission are screwed onto the car, then the rear axle, after that the electrical wires are laid, and so on. Finished cars are sent to the post, where an automated computer system checks the camber alignment of the car, as well as the headlight settings.

The next stage is a quality check, during which the car is searched for damage to the body that could occur during the production process, as well as during transportation of the car. Cars with scratches are sent to a small paint shop, after which the car is checked again. The final stage of production is testing at the test site, where the work of the technical "filling" of the car is checked.

As a result, it takes 4-5 hours of net time to assemble one car from the moment of unloading its components from the container to loading the finished product onto the auto transporter. When working in two shifts, the plant produces up to 150 vehicles per day. On July 19, the third shift was introduced here, after which the productivity increased to 200 cars per day.

So far, the plant produces only French brands, and with the launch of the assembly of the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV in the fall, it will account for 20 percent of the total production. The rest of the time the conveyors will be occupied by Peugeot and Citroens.

Like in France

According to the general director of the plant, Didier Alten, the French understand that even with a screwdriver assembly, the human factor plays an important role in the quality of a car. If unskilled employees work at the plant, then Russian-assembled machines will be worse than foreign counterparts, which means that they will be unclaimed by buyers.

In order to avoid such a problem, all new employees, before starting work at the plant, undergo training at a specialized center located in Kaluga. Here employees are told about the main stages of car assembly, and then they are trained in practice how to properly assemble cars. For this, the center has test models that are already being produced and which are planned to be put on the conveyor in the near future. The training lasts five weeks. During this time, employees must learn to perform actions in a specific sequence and in a strictly allotted time, as required by production. At the plant, there is no "specialization" among shop operators: the same worker must be equally good at screwing bolts and laying electrical wires.

The teachers who follow the students' progress are French, who have previously worked in other Peugeot and Citroen training centers around the world. In addition, at the PCMA Rus plant itself, the work of the assembly shop operators is monitored by French specialists who are entrusted with supervisory functions.

In addition to quality checks, which are carried out on all vehicles after they have rolled off the assembly line, the French regularly carry out quality audits. They select eight machines every day and find out if the inspectors missed any assembly defects.

Currently, 70 percent of the plant's products do not need to be refined after they leave the assembly line. For a young plant, this is a good indicator, says Didier Alten, but in the future, as the experience of the workers grows, it should increase and strive for one hundred percent.

Full cycle

Since September 2010, the plant plans to establish a screwdriver assembly of the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 crossovers, a little later the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV will join them. In 2010, the plant plans to produce 20 thousand cars, and in 2011 - up to 45 thousand.

From the second quarter of 2012, the enterprise will start production of a full cycle, when body painting and equipment of the car interior will be produced on its own territory. Currently, new workshops are being built next to the existing site, which are planned to be commissioned by the end of 2011.

In two years, the total area of \u200b\u200bthe plant will be one hundred thousand square meters, and the number of employees will be increased to three thousand people. The production capacity at the first stage will be 120 thousand vehicles per year, in the future it can be increased to 300 thousand. The investment is estimated at 500 million euros.

At the same time, the cars of these three brands have every chance to withstand the test: now the PCMA Rus plant is called one of the most technically advanced and favorable for work - along with the Volkswagen plant, which is located several tens of kilometers from the French-Japanese plant.