Peugeot Motor Company Plc
Next time you grind some pepper onto your food, think of Peugeot. One of life's most familiar mechanisms was created by a Peugeot engineer back in the 1810s.
Even 200 years ago Peugeot was a forward-looking company, converting a flour mill into a steel factory to manufacture watch springs and steel tools. Peugeot built the world's first steam-powered tricycle. The first Peugeot car (also steam-powered) was released in 1889, and the first ever motor race, the Paris-Rouen of 1894, was won by a Peugeot.
Today's Peugeot product range still contains bicycles and pepper mills (still using the practically-unchanged original mechanism), but has expanded somewhat to include cars, scooters and vans, all with strong environmental credentials. Since 2001, Peugeot has sold 1.3 million cars that emit less than 120g of CO2 per kilometre. One in every six vehicles from this category sold in Europe is a Peugeot.
Peugeot's high engineering standards have brought considerable success in motorsport, most notably in rallying with four wins in the gruelling Paris-Dakar race, three WRC titles, and victory in the '09 IRC series for Kris Meeke in the 207 S2000. The revolutionary diesel-powered 908 HDi FAP has lit up world endurance racing, and passed on many technologies to Peugeot road cars. Design and concept cars like the BB1 electric city car and the stunning 508 (which will be the world's first diesel hybrid to enter the mass market when it's launched in 2011): demonstrate Peugeot's intention to reinvent the automobile, not just in the traditional areas of style and innovation but also in the way the car connects with our lives.
The company's recently-launched Mu scheme reflects this holistic approach to personal mobility. In exchange for points, a Mu member can access a range of mobility services from the wide portfolio of Peugeot products – whether or not they already own a vehicle. Being able to use the most appropriate vehicle for your needs is a radical but completely sensible transport solution for the 21st century – as you'd expect for a company that's been innovating since the beginning of the 19th century.
