The lion of Peugeot: this is the story behind a great symbol

We’re sure many motoring enthusiasts began their great passion by identifying the different cars on the road by their emblem. I remember when the logos of Volkswagen, Audi or Peugeot meant nothing to my young mind, which was just taking its first steps as an dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead. Today, however, we can carefully uncover the history behind these emblems and how they came about, keeping that legacy alive to the present day, something that is true of Peugeot, one of the longest-established names in the world.

The French marque is characterised by many elements but, without a doubt, the one that catches the eye most – and the one that concerns us today – is the imposing lion that presides over every single Peugeot that leaves the factory gates. This emblem has been representative of the brand since time immemorial, and today we will review the history hidden behind the Peugeot logo.

To do so we must go back to 1858, when Emile Peugeot decided to bring the lion to life as the symbol of a brand that would make history. At that time, building cars was not part of the French company’s plans, and its first steps as a business were taken by making various kitchen and carpentry tools, such as saws.

The effectiveness of the saws made by Peugeot was such that they became the most sought-after models among customers of the era. Their precise cut, flexibility and resistance were the qualities that led them to be directly compared to the sharp teeth of a lion. That was the turning point that led Peugeot to adopt one of the most feared and respected felines in the world to represent its products.

Peugeot unveiled its first logo to the world, depicting a lion perched on an arrow and looking to the left, intended to represent the movement of a saw. It appeared in 1872 and was applied to other products such as grinders, bicycles and even motorcycles, two means of transport the French brand still works with today.

The passing of time modernised the Peugeot emblem and adapted it to the times, until it became the lion we all know today. It was not until 1905 that the French brand’s logo first appeared on a vehicle and, in 1923, the sculptors Marx and Baudichon decided to modernise the logo. To do so, they made the lion three-dimensional and it began to be used as the radiator cap.

Over the years, the Peugeot lion evolved and adapted to the circumstances of each era but, without a doubt, the French brand has managed to keep it alive and preserve its essence for current models. In this way, one of the most characteristic elements of Peugeot has managed to endure over time and will continue to do so.