1
Introduction
Citroen founder. Andre Citroen (A.Citroen) was born in Paris, France. Dutch origin, his father was in the jewelry business, businessman, his mother was Polish. In 1912, Andre Citroen began employing shaped gear as a trademark Citroen products. Later, Citroen has organized the African continent and across the Asian continent two trips across the Citroen became famous. France life of cheerful, love fashion, like the novel and beautiful, “Citroen” cars on the performance of the French this character all the time exudes a French romantic.
2
Personal experience
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growth in the disaster
February 5, 1878, Andre Citroen was born in Paris, France. Dutch origin, his father was in the jewelry business, businessman, his mother was Polish, his family was wealthy, the family has five children, Citroen is the smallest one. His childhood love of science, indulge in Verne’s science fiction.
But all at the age of 6 Citroen ended, when his father out of business, deceived, not only all investment down the drain, the original home of the savings have come to naught. Father can not accept such an outcome, committed suicide. Mother, unable to endure the blow, already sick body more frail, and soon died. Moment, family members dead.
rely on relief relatives, Citroen struggling to live down, also admitted to the famous universities – Paris Ecole College of Engineering, heChose engineering, it is to grasp a reliable technology, as capital of their future job search time, subconsciously, he was in business full of doubt and unbelief, because his father is dead because of business failure. At that time, he was full of worship and trust in science and technology, he finds that technological progress will give human happiness, and his dream was to become a future engineer.
In 1900, graduated from the University of Citroen to Poland to visit his grandmother on vacation, on the road, he happened to notice on a device according to the gear “human” shape spell, this discovery gave him little inspiration from after grandmother back Citroen invention herringbone gear system, i.e. double character modeling to more easily perform the process of cutting the transmission, it is lighter than sound method of cutting a conventional shape, with less effort. For which he received a patent.
In 1905, Citroen built a own small company, specializing in the production of its own proprietary products, as smooth and efficient herringbone gear, and soon began to sell the whole of Europe, but this does not satisfy Citroen he always felt light production gear is not enough, should also continue to move forward.
In 1908, Morse brothers run a circuit of electronic signals Equipment Factory brink of bankruptcy, Citroen decided to take over this business. In order to find out the shortcomings of the enterprise, he came to the company to inspect the grassroots, with an acute powers of observation and determination, he realized that the most important obstacle to the company from a small workshop-style production model, so Citroen drastically changed the old mode of operation, the company’s business situation has improved considerably.
1912 for Citroen, it is a critical year, he came to the United States, visited the Henry Ford automobile plant, the visit gave him a great shock, he realized that the gear after , what they should do, and that is the production car. He admired Ford’s high-volume assembly line production, it was first introduced in France, tested in their own factories.
In 1913, he named his company “Citroen gear factory”, specializing in the production of gear-motivated, and began producing cars. He gear tooth shape as a symbol, the establishment of a factory mark, and use it as a trademark product. Even today, as long as people see this sign, they will immediately think of the Citroen car company. Then “Citroen gear factory” scale andNot great, just hired a draftsman and 10 workers, Citroen own factory director, who is also the administrative director, technicians and salesmen.
gear business has been outstanding reputation, do not worry, let’s worry about the Citroen automobile production, he made several attempts, but all because of one reason or another, failed. Just when he wanted to stay here, “a war” broke out, his car test had to be stopped.
car with arms pot of gold
During the “War”, 36-year-old Andre Citroen enlisted him He was appointed as artillery second lieutenant, in charge of restructuring the army postal service. At that time, front-line officers, soldiers and their loved ones behind home contact information is mainly correspondence mail. War, “Letters from home”, to establish a quick and accurate zip line between the front and rear, both to boost the morale of troops, but also to the rear of emotional comfort, for that matter when the chief worry of the time, there have been many management experience Citroen had an idea, put forward a suggestion: divided into a range of postal services in the area and the use of colored envelopes, so in order to correspond with the zip, which is more convenient, fast, the postal army greatly changed.
initial victory, Citroen and looking for new opportunities. In others it seems, it does not mean that war never a good thing, but it seems Citroen, which also means a huge market and business opportunities. At that time, at the front, the French army there was a shortage of artillery shells situation. Citroen proposed to build a Nissan 20,000 rounds of factories, this proposal was quickly approved.
and decisive Citroen took only 40 days time in Paris, the famous Seine River built a munitions factory plant. Here, his organization managed to get a great workout and play. Because wartime lack of people, in spite of his opposition to others, began to hire women to work, it turns out, the woman is not inferior to men, from the start of pilot production to full production in a few months, shells per day on a 10000 issued rose to 5.5 million rounds.
until the end of the war, due to the success of the arms business, Citroen already have a small capital, which allowed him to concentrate on the production of automotive after time. He boasted to the crowd: “In the future to produce 100 cars a day!”The French do,” Ford “, but almost no one believes him, we think this person is crazy.
but Citroen is serious, he knew his lack of experience, they hired a bit automotive engineer, but after the war because people’s purchasing power is still very low, specifically to go “cheap” route. May 28, 1919, a-type automobile was born, the car engine power of 13.2 kW, maximum speed of 65 km / h. hundred kilometers of 7.5 liters, electronic ignition, 3-speed transmission .A car available, and soon received 16,000 orders, became a star in France and Europe’s car. this is Citroen automobile company Creating first cars manufactured after, the first car in Europe pipelined production car, Nissan is the first line of 30 cars speed production, the year 2810 out of the bus.
Since the Model a low fuel consumption, 1920 Award for best economic performance in Le Mans, this fame will soon bring good luck for the Citroen, to 1923, its daily output has reached 200, 1924, daily output is up to 300 Citroen has become one of Europe’s successful automobile manufacturers. July 28, 1924 Citroen Automobile Company was formally established.
not only sell cars
Citroen pipeline into the United States not only in France, he is still in their own companies to implement US-style marketing methods and service measures. he was one of the first traders know how to take advantage of advertising. to expand brand awareness, he to 2% of turnover on advertising in this regard, he even do better than their peers in the United States since Citroen has always insisted that:… the car factory is not just selling cars, as well as attentive service
[ 123] he started to work hard on car sales way, the creation year guarantee system, the establishment of distribution networks, set out a list of the parts catalog and maintenance costs, so that all points of sale, point of repair costs to be unified. in 1922, he vigorously installment way to promote the sale of vehicles, established the nation’s first institution solely installments, and in foreign countries have also published many car rental companies across the country to form a tour bus service Service network.
and in terms of publicity for the company and its products, Citroen is exhausted wayIn that time, he may be regarded as a creative genius. After World War I, the French traffic signs on the road all are corrupt. Citroen decided in the name of the company to provide all kinds of signs to the French government and set up on the road in France, not only to help the government solve the problem on traffic management, these signs also became Citroen’s advertising.
In 1922, at the 7th session of the Paris Motor Show opening ceremony of the exhibition out of an airplane over a 5 km-long smoke subtitle – “CITROEN” (from the United States at the time the Wright brothers invented just nine years of successful aircraft, the aircraft was a curious thing, Citroen came up with such a spectacular unprecedented marketing campaign, it is amazing. in addition, hung up to 30 meters of the giant light box is still on the Eiffel Tower Citroen advertising -. “CITROEN” in Paris at night, “CITROEN” characters extraordinarily bright eye-catching, one need only see the tall Eiffel Tower, Citroen will remember the name of the company came to be seen as a move in the world of advertising. the success of the model in the history of
in 1923, he launched a large-scale car race across the Sahara desert; in 1924 they organized through the whole of Africa “black Tour” racing activities; in 1927, the American Lindbergh flying across the North Atlantic success, he tried to persuade the flying hero to his factory workers to accept congratulations results of the second Day newspaper on board such articles – “Lindbergh access Citroen”
Since 1928, Citroen end of each month publish a substantial advertising in major newspapers in France 100; 1931 he founded in Paris, France At that time the world’s largest (400 meters long) car shopping malls, in addition to car distribution, but also the venue opened concerts and film screenings. At the same time, Citroen has launched a “yellow conquer”, following throughout Africa, “black Tour”, he letting her new car deep in Asia, Citroen from Beirut, across the Himalayas to reach Beijing, which lasted 13 months, with 3 million meters, the ability to test the car to face a variety of bad road conditions, is the greatest invention of the 20th century – – expand the ultimate car may
leaving behind only the grudge in the world
Citroen car as his all, he does not pursue extravagant in their daily lives. just keptInvestment in plant and development of new models, the pursuit of technological progress, he even claimed that “as long as a good idea, the price is not important.”
floating engine, front-wheel drive technology has just come out, Citroen could not wait to put them to use their own car, 1925, Citroen took the decision to stop production of timber body, use of advanced steel body to produce an all-steel car of France. 1930s Citroen enormous amounts of money to develop and produce a set of front-wheel drive vehicle chassis integration, three hydraulic brake sophisticated technology in a Model T –TractionAvant. The car is almost a miracle of modern design, including the automotive industry, it was also the most significant and most successful automotive products.
April 18, 1934, Citroen demonstrated this car to the press, the whole world was surprised. The next day the French newspaper reported this: “It’s so new, so bold, so creative, so called unique sensation of re-fitting..”
However, although a good idea, the price but it is very large. Funding innovative ideas needed to be high. Although this was later known as the “gangster car” front-wheel drive car to Citroen has brought great honor and profit, but at the time it was a disaster.
First of all, it’s the long cycle, the next product can not be launched on schedule, coupled with the rush into production and then there are many defects in design, manufacture, and market disruption, Citroen facing a huge debt crisis. But before that, he had to borrow from banks many times, in order to test their new, the bank no longer willing to take the risk.
no bank loans, they do not get government support, ill a few months Citroen no way to convince others of their own bright future depicted. December 21, 1934, he had to declare bankruptcy. Bank is behind everything. January 1935, Citroen shares were transferred to the Michelin tire company, he left the company completely his own and created. Six months later, that is, July 3, 1935, a lifetime of struggle Citroen forever rest in peace.
in two days after his death, countless workers, dealers and even ordinary customers flocked to salute condolences to his Citroen, the French government gave him awardOf a two Medal of Honor. Although he departed, but until today, “Citroen” brand is still one of the best brands. His front wheel drive design did not outdated, perhaps Citroen, he is not the best entrepreneurs, but it is the best innovators, reformers, he used his life to do the groundwork automotive business forward.