The animal depicted in Peugeot’s emblem introduced in 1850 is a lion.
Peugeot adopted the lion as a trademark in the nineteenth century, when the company was known for producing saw blades and other steel goods before becoming a major vehicle manufacturer. The lion communicated qualities associated with Peugeot’s products: durability, flexibility, and cutting speed.
The emblem changed considerably over time. Early versions showed a lion walking on an arrow, while later designs used heraldic shields, a standing lion, or a lion’s head. In 2021, Peugeot introduced a new shield emblem featuring a stylized lion’s head and the Peugeot name.
The lion is therefore more than a modern car badge; it is a symbol inherited from Peugeot’s industrial history. It is also easy to confuse the Peugeot lion with other automotive animal emblems, including Jaguar’s leaper and Ferrari’s prancing horse. Their shapes and historical meanings are different.