Andre Citroen Biography

The success history whose name is Citroen

There are famous names in the motor-car construction that don’t let anyone be indifferent. It is only worth to mention the name of Citroen, car experts will glean all possible synonyms right away: audacious and avant-garde style of innovations that take the lead over the time. This is the unique auto make that managed to allocate three own models in the top 10 list of the most famous cars of XX century.
It is impossible to narrate about “Citroen” company and its influence on car history not mentioning previously about Andre Citroen, the company’s founder, was first one in Europe who started car’s repetition work in 1919 year.

If there is a good intention,
the price is out of importance.
Andre Citroen.

Andre Citroen was born on the 5th of February 1878, in a family of successful merchant. His father was a joint owner of enterprises that were engaged in processing and selling gems. But it was not his father who taught Andre business wisdom. When future auto maker was about six years old, Levi Bernard Citroen took his own life. However, he left a lot to his family: a huge legacy plus contacts in financial and industrial circles of Paris.

Those times, son usually kept on father’s business. But the trade didn’t attract Andre. In 1889 he entered Polytechnic school and when he graduated from it at the age of 23 he started a job in workshops owned by his friends - brothers Estens, where parts for steam locomotives were being produced.

In 1905 Citroen became a partner of Estens, having invested in business the entire legacy he inherited after his parents. He arranged gear-making producing much more perfect than it was being produced by business rivals. Cog-wheel was devised unknown polish self-taught mechanic. Citroen just discerned timely that new technology held much promise and took out a patent for utilization. Cog-wheels very soon came in popular demand in international markets – in London, Brussels and even Moscow that made a profit to company owners.

From here it originates the company emblem in the form of turned over letters “V” that sketch mitre gear. They call “double chevron” this emblem in France.

Citroen fulfilled the duties of commercial and technical director and very soon he ceased to have rivals. The name of young entrepreneur became a legend and helped him in 1908 to take the technical director chair of successful Mors automobile plant.

Here Citroen developed feverish activity as well: he recruited fresh brains, modernized cars structure and design; proposed to put prices down. Hence success came immediately, sales abruptly increased.

During the World War I, Citroen proved his abilities again. He set his entrepreneurial talent for the service of the belligerent France and own professional ambitions. In the face of bad French army ammunition provosion, Citroen enters into ...