Peugeot describes itself as the world's oldest surviving automotive brand, but it has undergone several facelifts. The French car manufacturer was founded in 1810, making it over 200 years old.

There aren't many brands that have survived for that long, let alone brands in the highly competitive and combustible car industry. Throughout Europe, Peugeot is a staple on the roads, but the company hasn't sold new vehicles in the United States for decades.

That may be all set to change soon, though, as the company has admitted its plans to return to the United States in 2023. What better way to launch its return to the other side of the Atlantic than a rebrand? The French company has sported variations of the same logo since the 1970s, but earlier this year, it announced that something different would appear at the front of its vehicles.

Let's take a look at Peugeot's new logo and how it has changed over the years.

A Bold New Look

Old Peugeot logo on the left and new Peugeot logo on the right
Via Wikimedia Commons

We mentioned that Peugeot had stuck with the same logo since the 1970s but with slight variations over the decades. The French automotive company's new logo is a complete departure from recent renditions as it loses the lion's body.

Instead, the new Peugeot logo features a lion's head which is part of a change of direction for the car company. This new logo is much cleaner than previous versions, which allow Peugeot to roll it out across all media platforms.

Peugeot also plans to release a lifestyle collection that includes electrical goods, clothing, and leather goods. This clean logo design still looks great on Peugeot's cars too, and it will be rolled out on its vehicles starting with the 308 later this year.

Peugeot is not the only car manufacturer to change its logo to reflect its approach to electric vehicles, and we may see more companies following suit in the future. General Motors made a similar move earlier this year to incorporate a plug symbol in its logo.

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Changing With The Times

The iconic lion first appeared on Peugeot cars in 1905 before a lion-shaped hood ornament was introduced in 1923. Peugeot adopted the lion as its symbol to represent the sharpness and strength of its products. In 1933 the lion hood ornament changed shape to reflect the art deco style of the times, and it didn't change again until 1948, several years after the Second World War ended.

1948 saw the introduction of the now-famous lion, which had been inspired by the France-Comté coat of arms. This lion figure remained at the forefront of all Peugeot vehicles until 1960, when the king of the jungle changed its style. The 1960 version of the Peugeot lion was just ahead with a flowing mane and the company's name emblazoned above it.

In 1968 the lion became super-sleek and fully gold or chrome-plated. A lion's head remained the focal point of the Peugeot logo until 1975, when the French car manufacturers returned to using the full lion body.

That chrome lion only changed slightly between 1975 and 2021 before Peugeot adopted its new logo. It's easy to see the comparisons between the recently-refreshed logo and that of the 1960s when everything was much more stylish.

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The Longest Timeline

Peugeot 4040 Cabriolet parked with roof up
Via Wikimedia Commons

For some car manufacturers, a decade is a long time. It's a different story for Peugeot, however, and over 200 years later, it is still going strong. The company first established itself as a tool manufacturer, bringing coffee grinders and umbrella frames to France.

However, Peugeot did also start to make vehicles all those years ago, but they were bicycles rather than cars. It wasn't until 1889 that Peugeot created its first motor vehicle, a steam-powered three-wheeler. Cars with three wheels have been a mixed bag, but it was the foundation for Peugeot's success. By 1929, Peugeot had established itself as a leading car manufacturer, and it was in this year that it adopted the numbering system for its vehicles.

Its first mass-produced car was the 201, and the number kept on coming throughout the 20th century. Peugeot continued to innovate, and in 1962, it created an iconic vehicle, the 404 Cabriolet. This '60s classic car remains highly collectible and a standout from over 200 years of history.

Racing Success

Peugeot hasn't only been a commercial success, and the French car manufacturer has plenty of racing pedigree. In fact, a Peugeot was the winner of the first-ever timed race at the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris rally in 1895. All three participating Peugeots ranked in the top four in a race that saw the introduction of the world's first inflatable tires, made by early tire innovators Michelin, of all companies.

Over the years, Peugeot has seen victories at Indianapolis, Le Mans, Paris-Dakar, Pikes Peak, and the FIA World Rallycross team event. Let's not forget Peugeot's cycling success either, as it was the first vehicle the French manufacturers ever produced. Peugeot became the first bicycle manufacturer to be the Tour de France winning bike 10 times.

With its commitment to innovation, here's to another 200 years of French cars, bicycles, and fresh logo changes.

Source: Peugeot

NEXT: Peugeot Returning To The U.S. Market In 2023