Citroën Internal Information No. 080 (15 July 1974): June production and Peugeot agreement

In this document

Marketed production of June 1974

The bulletin opens with the month's figures: 59,004 vehicles produced in 17 working days, compared to 66,892 in June 1973 (20 working days). The breakdown is 27,507 vehicles for the domestic market and 31,497 for export p. 35.

The domestic market is described as "stationary", driven by the entry-level range (2 CV, Dyane, Ami 8), more sustained in the mid-range, and "still difficult" for the D range — with a slowdown in the second half of June due to the seasonal decline and the tightening of credit p. 35. A price increase is announced effective from 8 July, limited to the Méhari, the Ami 8, the Ami Super, the GS Birotor and the H vehicle p. 35. For exports, the pace remains sustained in Europe, with an increase in deliveries of entry-level models and a decrease in the high-end range over the first half of the year p. 35.

The Citroën-Peugeot agreement

The bulletin mentions, "too early" to comment in detail, the merger with Peugeot, and reproduces the address by François Rollier at the general meeting of shareholders on 26 June 1974 p. 35-37. In it, he recalls the recovery of Société Automobiles Citroën since the 1969-1970 crisis, praises the qualities of hydraulics applied to "a mid-range car" (the GS) "as a mass-produced car bringing unparalleled comfort to all" p. 37, then details the turnaround at the end of 1973 (energy crisis, rising costs, drop in high-end sales) which precipitated the search for an industrial partner "under conditions such that [...] the personality and originality of Citroën can be preserved" p. 37.

CX colours and options

The document lists the nine available colours (including three metallic) and the options for the future CX 2000: hydraulic power steering "with variable assistance (SM principle)", metallic colours, tinted windows, caravan equipment, electric windows and direct-display rev counter (exclusive to the CX 2000, standard on the 2200). Commercialisation in France is announced for "early September", with a presentation to staff from 11 to 20 September 1974 p. 36.

Statistical tables

Context

This bulletin is part of the weeks following the announcement, on 24 June 1974, of the merger between Citroën, Peugeot and Michelin — a major turning point for the history of the brand with the chevrons, which had been a subsidiary of the Michelin group since 1935.

The GS, launched in 1970, generalised the hydropneumatic suspension — a system developed by Paul Magès — to an accessible mid-range car, following the Traction Avant and the DS. The future CX, mentioned here in preparation, would take over from the DS in 1974 and would use this same hydraulic technology.

Archivist's perspective

This document is of dual interest: it records ordinary production data (routine for internal bulletins) while preserving, through the full reproduction of Rollier's speech, a direct trace of Citroën's official discourse at the pivotal moment of its merger with Peugeot.

The mention of the hydraulics applied to the GS "which has proven its worth" p. 37 testifies, it seems, to the institutional pride attached to this technology developed by Paul Magès, presented here as an asset for differentiating the brand at the very moment its independence is being questioned.

This bulletin can usefully be compared with the message from François Rollier of 24 June 1974, which announced the agreement a few weeks earlier, and bulletin No. 081 of August 1974, which extends the announcement of the launch of the CX already prepared here.