The lion image is the Peugeot brand logo, applied to Peugeot's saw blade products in 1847, and evolved to become Peugeot's sole manufacturing trademark in the mid-1880s. As a symbol of the brand, the image of the lion has constantly evolved and has played out a legend that spans many centuries. From symbolizing the quality of saw blades to representing a manufacturing company that pursues high quality without end, the lion logo closely associates the company with the qualities of agility, strength and beauty represented by the feline.
The lion image is well known. For one hundred and fifty years, Peugeot products, past and present, have been shipped with the lion mark, and the lion can be seen on the hoods or front grilles of Peugeot cars.
The evolution of the brand's logo
The history of the lion began on a beautiful morning in 1847, when two Peugeot brothers, Jules and Emile, commissioned the Montpellier jewelry makers to design a logo to brand their own products, which were made from tools such as hacksaws. They wanted a design in the shape of a lion, which is a motif in the coat of arms of the Montbéliard region, but also mainly because the lion represents three qualities of Peugeot's saw blades: the durability of the teeth - like a lion's teeth, the flexibility of the blade - like a lion's spine - which is not easily broken, and the speed of the cut - like a prancing lion! Swiftness. Among the many design options, the brothers chose the side view of a lion walking on an arrow. 1850 saw blades were stamped with the lion, and on November 20, 1858, the lion logo was registered at the Royal Museum of Crafts in France.
The lion, originally designed for saw blades, was gradually applied to the entire range of tools from Peugeot Brothers. It represents the first quality of steel, previously known as "cast steel". The other grades of steel are represented by different symbols: the curved moon for the second grade ("hardened steel"), the hand for the third grade ("semi-hardened steel"), and the star for the lower grades. In addition, some of the tools have their own markings: a steel planer made in 1860, a long-handled fork, a clay knife all marked by a deer, and so on. It was not until the mid-1880s that the lion became the sole symbol of Peugeot products. the lion logo appeared on bicycles in 1882 and was used on motorcycles in 1901.
In the mid-1820s, a new version of the lion appeared: a bronze lion stood in an aggressive position on the tank lid, adding to Peugeot's unique character.
In 1933, the logo changed again: this time the head of a roaring lion was placed on top of the front grille. This image was used from 1930 to 1950.
The lion heraldic motif with upright hind legs appeared in 1957 and was the predecessor of the logo used. The new lion was used on the 203 model and also appeared on the regional badge of Franche Comté. 1955 saw the introduction of the lion on the 403, with a triangular badge and the word "PEUGEOT" in archaic script. 1968 saw the lion detached from the badge for the first time since the war, and 1975 saw the appearance of the lion in chrome with a contour line outline, with a hollowed-out central part, which was used on all Peugeot models. The modern logo was born five years later in 1980, modified in 1998 and finalized in 2002 as the "blue logo". In January 2010, Peugeot's lion logo was changed for the tenth time to mark the brand's bicentenary with a new look. The new Lion logo has a cleaner design than the previous one. The combination of matte and polished surfaces creates a bimetallic look, making the new lion image more three-dimensional, vivid and modern, emphasizing the passion and vitality of the Peugeot brand. The strong, angular lion logo appears on all Peugeot products as well as on the architectural walls of the sales and service stores.