André Citroën facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André Citroën
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André Citroën on an ocean voyage
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| Born |
André-Gustave Citroën
5 February 1878 |
| Died | 3 July 1935 (aged 57) Paris, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Business, engineering |
| Known for | Founder of Citroën |
| Parent(s) | Levie Citroen and Masza Amelia Kleinman |
| Relatives | Alfred Lindon (brother in law) |
André-Gustave Citroën (born February 5, 1878 – died July 3, 1935) was a French businessman and engineer. He is famous for starting the French car company Citroën. He is also known for using special "double helical gears" in his work.
Contents
Life and Career of André Citroën
Early Life and Family History
André-Gustave Citroën was born in Paris, France, in 1878. He was the fifth and youngest child of Levie Citroen, a diamond merchant, and Masza Amelia Kleinman. His family had a unique history with their name.
His grandfather, who lived in the Netherlands, was a greengrocer. He sold tropical fruits and was known as "Limoenman," which means "lime man" in Dutch. Later, his son changed the family name to "Citroen," meaning "lemon" in Dutch. When the family moved to Paris in 1873, a special mark called a "tréma" was added to the name. This changed "Citroen" to "Citroën."
Becoming an Engineer
As a young boy, André Citroën was inspired by the adventure stories of Jules Verne. He also saw the amazing Eiffel Tower being built for the World Exhibition in Paris. These experiences made him want to become an engineer.
In 1900, André graduated from a famous engineering school called the École Polytechnique. That same year, he visited Poland, where his mother was born. While there, he saw a carpenter making special gears that looked like a "fish bone" pattern. These gears were quieter and worked better than regular ones.
André bought the idea for these gears for a very small amount of money. This led to his invention of the double helical gears. Their unique "double chevron" shape is said to be the inspiration for the famous Citroën car company logo. In 1908, he became the head of an car company called Mors, where he was very successful.
World War I and Mass Production
During World War I, André Citroën played a big role in making weapons. He was in charge of producing many armaments very quickly. He became known around the world as a top expert in mass production in France. His work helped factories like Renault make huge amounts of military supplies.
After the war, in 1919, Citroën briefly explored building steam-powered cars. However, this idea didn't work out, and he moved on to other projects.
Founding the Citroën Car Company
In 1919, André Citroën started his own car company, which he named Citroën. By the early 1930s, his company had grown to become the fourth largest car maker in the world.
Citroën was always looking for new ideas. He spent a lot of money developing an advanced car called the Traction Avant. This car had front-wheel drive and a special "unibody" design, which was very new at the time. However, the high costs of developing this car and updating his factories led to financial trouble. In 1934, the company faced bankruptcy.
The main company that helped Citroën, Michelin (who made tires for his cars), took over the company. Even with the early problems, the Traction Avant became a huge success. It was produced for many years, even after World War II, until 1957.
André Citroën passed away in Paris in 1935 from stomach cancer. He was buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery.
Lasting Recognition
Honoring His Legacy
André Citroën's impact on Paris and the car industry was huge. On October 9, 1958, a street in Paris was renamed "Quai André-Citroën." This was to honor how he changed the area. Before Citroën built his car factory there, it was mostly used for farming. His factory was Europe's first mass-production car plant.
This street had been named "Quai de Javel" before, after a chemical factory that made products like bleach.
Parks and Halls of Fame
In 1992, a public park in Paris was named Parc André Citroën after him. This beautiful park was built on the very spot where his car factory used to be. The factory closed in the 1970s and was taken down between 1976 and 1984.
In 1998, André-Citroën was honored by being added to the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. This shows his important place in the history of cars.
See also
In Spanish: André Citroën para niños
- Arthur Constantin Krebs, Panhard General Manager from 1897 to 1916
