Peugeot is a renowned French car company that also happens to be one of the oldest automobile makers in the world. Established in 1810, the car company founded by Armand Peugeot is engaged in the manufacture of various types of equipment meant for the transport industry. The rich history of the brand is reflected in its iconic logo, which has undergone several transformations since the inception of the company. Each such change in the logo mirrors the evolution of the brand and the changing times. This article delves into the history and evolution of the marquee symbol of the French automobile industry.
The Genesis of the Peugeot Logo (1810–1858)
The story of the Peugeot logo begins in 1847, when the Peugeot family was primarily involved in manufacturing steel products. The lion was chosen as the original emblem of the company and was designed by jeweller Justin Blazer. This ferocious looking image of a lion was depicted walking on an arrow to symbolise the strength, suppleness, and swiftness of Peugeot’s saw blades.
(1858–1899)
The image of the lion in the logo was made more powerful by adding shadows without changing the monochrome colour. The drawing had more detailing without altering the concept or the contours. Also, it was during this period that the Peugeot family finalised the lion as its trademark, since the animal personified the power and speed of the motorcycles and bicycles produced by the company.
(1889–1910)
In 1889, the image of the lion was refined by removing its muscles and aggressive expression. Moreover, the tail was lengthened, and the arrowhead on which the lion stood was painted black. These changes made the features of the lion appear more real yet elegant.
(1910–1925)
A significant change occurred in 1910 when the lion was redesigned to stand on its hind legs with its mouth open, as if roaring. This posture conveyed a more aggressive and powerful image and reflected the growing ambitions of the company. Besides, the lion was turned into a 3D figurine with a menacing, growling look. The claws on its left front paw were left open, while the right paw pressed the arrow against the stone.
(1925–1936)
In 1925, the logo was redrawn to include certain elements, but the previous version was retained. There was a black rectangle covering the boulder partially, upon which stood the lion figurine. The brand name in white was executed against the black rectangle in uppercase and in a sans-serif font. The letters appeared to be contoured to evoke a feel of professionalism and confidence. Finally, the lion and the brand name were enclosed within a red circle.
(1927–1936)
This period saw an almost identical replica of the previous logo, but with subtle differences. For instance, the lion was shown without any artistic nuances, the red circle was transformed into a badge with a gold outline, and the brand name was enclosed in a black trapezoid and executed using gold-coloured letters with contoured edges.
(1936–1948)
In the logo iteration of 1936, the shield or badge was given a dark yellow background with black adorning the edges to give it a 3D look. Besides, there were dark stripes inside the shield that extended right from the centre to the bottom. The image of the lion stood on an arrow facing left.
(1948–1950)
The logo redesign depicted the lion standing almost upright on its hind legs with its claws released. The lion, in black but with a white outline, is shown with a menacing action. It had its tongue sticking out from an open mouth. Besides, the tail was shown in the shape of a petal and a flower.
(1950–1955)
During this era, the lion was redesigned in yellow and placed inside the crest with a square frame. The predator was shown on two legs, with its face turned to the left and its tongue protruding out. The lion was made into a heraldic sign, given that the badge or crest with a double frame was featured as the background.
(1955–1960)
In this logo iteration, the logo was given a triangular shield frame with an upright and graceful-looking lion with sharpened claws. Besides, the brand name was placed on top of the lion, where the letter “E” had a short upper ladder.
(1960–1968)
The logo redesign was quite dramatic in 1960, with the lion figurine changed to its head sporting a thick mane in yellow with black stripes, and set against a blue background. The shield had a copper-like colour adorning the edges. The brand name in white appeared on top of the lion like in the previous variant, while the logo resembled a coat of arms.
(1968–1970)
The logo of this era was a simplified variant of the earlier iteration, wherein the head of the lion was turned flat and given a chrome colour. The triangular shield was replaced by a square one, and the head of the lion was made to look like an Egyptian deity with rectangular-shaped ears and a trapezoidal mane. The brand name in yellow rendered in a sans-serif typeface was placed on top of the lion’s head.
(1970–1975)
The fuller image of the lion on hind legs and facing left appeared in this iteration again. The yellow-hued lion had a few sharp corners, smooth lines, and several curves. The handwriting-inspired brand name in lowercase too received a rounded typeface. However, the triangular shield with a copper-hued outline displayed sharp corners.
(1975–1980)
This era saw the lion outline being made a part of the logo design. Looking futuristic, the lion standing upright on its hind legs had a minimalistic shape. And below the lion figurine was the brand name rendered in a monochrome palette.
(1980–1998)
The logo design was almost similar to the previous version but had a white outline. It was placed on a square with a blue background. Below the square emblem the brand name appeared in a block-type typeface but in a reduced size.
(1998–2002)
The logo design continued with the previous version, but the lion figurine was made bigger and coloured white. Interestingly, the right side of the lion, along with its tail, was coated in a thicker shade of white and grey. The brand name was rendered in a bold sans-serif font in blue with distinct contours.
(2002–2010)
In this logo iteration, the previous image of the heraldic lion and the brand name in white were placed in one square with a dark blue background.
(2010–2021)
The logo redesigned in 2010 had the lion shown in a metallic colour with a gradient. Here, the silhouette of the lion was shown to be stable and confident, and it was bestowed with anthropomorphic characteristics or features. The brand name was rendered flat using fine blue lines.
(2021–Present)
The latest iteration of the Peugeot logo displayed a classic black shield with a double outline in white. It featured a stylized, left-facing lion. The wordmark forming the brand name in uppercase was placed above the lion’s head, slightly arched, but inside the shield. It was executed in a sans-serif typeface. This logo, which is part of Peugeot’s brand reinvention, aims to position the company for the electric and digital age.
The Elements of the Peugeot Logo
Font
The 1998 logo redesign introduced the iconic lion’s head but also featured a significant typographic change. The Peugeot wordmark adopted the Castle T Bold typeface, which is a robust and distinctive font designed by Steve Jackaman and distributed by the URW Type Foundry. This choice of typeface added a modern, authoritative feel to the visual identity of the brand.
In addition to the contribution of Jackaman, the graphic artist Christophe Badani played a key role in developing another font used by Peugeot, thereby refining the brand’s typography even further.
Colour
All through its history, the Peugeot logo has maintained a largely restrained colour palette comprising black and white. This choice of colours conveyed a sense of elegance and timelessness. And when colour was introduced, it was used sparingly and strategically.
Some notable colour combinations include:
Yellow and blue: This pairing added vibrancy while maintaining a connection to the French heritage of Peugeot.
White and blue: A clean, crisp combination that evoked trust and reliability.
The logo has also used various shades of grey, which range from deep graphite to lustrous silver-metallic. These metallic tones, particularly in more recent iterations, have helped to convey a sense of premium quality and technological advancement. They have aligned with Peugeot’s position in the automotive market.
Interesting Facts About Peugeot
- Initially, the company used to manufacture bicycles and coffee mills before venturing into car production.
- The first car with three wheels was powered by steam and was designed by Leon Serpollet, a French engineer, in 1989.
- Manufactured vehicles for the military during the First World War.
- The ubiquitous lion logo was first used on saw blades before being used on cars.
- Peugeot was quite successful on the racing circuit, as it won the French Grand Prix in 1912. It also won many Dakar rallies.
- Invented an electric vehicle called the VLV in 1941.
- In 1959, the company introduced the first diesel passenger car.
- Set a world record in 2015 for fuel efficiency, wherein the Peugeot 208 model clocked 141.2 mpg for 1,337 miles on the trot.
- Won the European Car of the Year award several times (1969, 1988, and 2002).
- Won a total of 5 and 9 “Car of the Year” awards in Italy and Spain, respectively.
- Unveiled the electric car called E-LEGEND based on the design of the Peugeot 504 Coupe.
- Is the sponsor of the Sochaux football club.
The History of Peugeot
Peugeot is inarguably the marquee carmaker from France, which stands for innovation and adaptability. A key player within the Stellantis group, the roots of Peugeot can be traced back to 1810. This makes it the oldest and continuously operating business enterprise in France. Founded by Armand Peugeot, the company has evolved from its humble beginnings to become a diversified manufacturer of various transportation equipment.
While the corporate headquarters of Peugeot, housing its legal and administrative functions, is situated in Paris along the prestigious Avenue de la Grande Armée, the heart of its production is based in Sochaux, France. This dual presence underscores the commitment of Peugeot to both its Parisian business acumen and industrial heritage.
The Peugeot story began in the early 19th century as a family-run business in Valentigny, which is part of the Montbéliard district in the Franche-Comté region of France. Initially focused on saw production, the business quickly expanded into steel milling. As the industrial revolution gained momentum, the Peugeot family demonstrated remarkable foresight by diversifying their interests. Thus, one branch of the family ventured into the manufacture of bicycles and motorcycles, while another explored the nascent world of automobiles.
A significant moment came in 1896 when the company split and gave birth to Société des Automobiles Peugeot, dedicated to manufacturing cars. However, this separation was short-lived, as there was a reunification of the automobile division with Cycles Peugeot, the bicycle and motorcycle arm of the family business, in 1920.
The Peugeot trademark, which has become one of the most recognisable in the automotive world, was officially registered in November 1858. It took place under the guidance of Emile Peugeot, the son of the founder. Remarkably, despite the long history of the company and the dramatic changes that have taken place in the automotive industry, the Peugeot logo has maintained its core identity. While it has undergone design refinements over the years, its essence—the proud Peugeot lion—has remained a constant. It symbolises the brand’s strength, agility, and French pride.
Finally
Throughout the course of its history, the Peugeot logo has maintained the lion as its central motif. Each subsequent logo iteration has reflected the evolution of the company and the changing design trends of its time. With Peugeot continuing to navigate the rapidly changing automotive landscape, its logo remains a powerful symbol of the brand’s enduring legacy and future aspirations.