What do Citroën’s two chevrons in the emblem represent?

Citroën’s two chevrons represent the double-chevron gears that André-Gustave Citroën manufactured before founding the automobile company.

During a visit to Poland, Citroën saw a herringbone gear mechanism using V-shaped teeth. He acquired rights to the design and later produced similar gears in France. The chevrons became the emblem of his company because they directly recalled this early engineering business.

Citroën was founded in 1919 and began making automobiles after Citroën had built a successful industrial operation. The double-chevron motif remained central to the brand even as its styling changed. Modern versions may use chrome, black, or other treatments, but the paired V shapes remain recognizable.

The chevrons are often mistaken for mountain peaks, arrows, or road markings because of their simple geometry. Those interpretations describe the appearance rather than the historical origin. Their correct reference is the herringbone or double-chevron gear tooth design associated with Citroën’s early products.