Citroen Logo

Founding and Core Identity

André-Gustave Citroën established the company on 4 June 1919. His earlier family gear business producing helical herringbone gears directly inspired the double chevron that became the Citroen symbol. The founder chose this geometric form as the permanent Citroen car logo, creating an instantly recognizable Citroen emblem that has endured through every subsequent redesign.

The company began in Paris at Quai de Javel and is now headquartered in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine. Throughout its history Citroën has been known as an innovative French automaker that translates engineering ideas into distinctive visual symbols.

Ownership Timeline

Citroën operated as an independent company from 1919 until 1935. Financial difficulties after launching the Traction Avant led to acquisition by Michelin, its largest creditor. Under Michelin ownership the double chevron symbol stayed unchanged even as the company navigated new corporate structures.

In 1976 Citroën merged with Peugeot to form the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group. Since 2021 the brand has been part of Stellantis. These ownership changes have never altered the fundamental Citroen symbol derived from the original helical gears patent.

Citroen Logo Evolution

1. 1919–1922
2. 1922–1932
3. 1932–1935
4. 1935–1959
5. 1959–1966
6. 1966–1985
7. 1985–2009
8. 2009–2016
9. 2016–2019
10. 2019–2022
11. 2022–Present

1919–1922: Original Yellow and Blue Oval

The first Citroen logo appeared at the moment of company founding. It featured yellow chevrons inside a blue oval frame rendered in delicate lines. This design directly translated the V-shaped teeth of helical gears into a sophisticated automotive badge. The Citroen logo meaning was established immediately as a literal representation of the founder’s gear heritage.

• Design: Fine-line double chevrons inside oval frame
• Colors: Yellow and blue
• Changes: First use of the chevron symbol
• Context: Created at company founding in 1919

1922–1932: Blue Octagon with Bolder Chevrons

Blue became the dominant background color while the oval was placed on a solid blue octagon. The yellow chevron lines grew bolder for stronger visual impact. This iteration maintained the core Citroen car symbol while adapting to contemporary graphic tastes of the 1920s.

• Design: Chevron inside octagonal frame
• Colors: Blue background with yellow lines
• Changes: Shift to bolder lines and octagon shape
• Context: Continued use of original helical gear inspiration

1932–1935: Swan Variant with Floating Engine Reference

A unique temporary Citroen logo featured a white swan facing left inside a round frame with two chevrons positioned above it. The lower part represented water in blue. This version marked the first appearance of the Citroën wordmark in a wave shape. The swan logo coincided with the introduction of the floating engine on the Rosalie model.

• Design: Swan centered with chevrons above
• Colors: White swan on blue water background
• Changes: Addition of swan element and wave wordmark
• Context: Tied to floating engine innovation

1935–1959: Octagon Return with Wordmark

Following the Michelin takeover the logo returned to an octagon shape with a confident yellow frame. The Citroën wordmark appeared below the double chevrons. Special attention was given to the letter “I” with its dot balancing the “Ë”. This version restored geometric simplicity after the swan interlude.

• Design: Octagon with wordmark underneath
• Colors: Yellow frame on darker background
• Changes: Removal of swan and return to octagon
• Context: Introduced after 1935 ownership change

1959–1966: Three-Dimensional Yellow Chevrons

Wordmark was removed in this modern redesign. The chevrons became three-dimensional and enlarged with two teeth of different shapes. Only bright yellow was used against a thin horizontal oval contour. This Citroen logo evolution emphasized depth and technical precision.

• Design: Symmetrical 3D enlarged chevrons
• Colors: Bright yellow only
• Changes: Removal of wordmark and addition of dimensionality
• Context: Mid-century modernization of the Citroen badge

1966–1985: Blue Square with White Circle

The palette returned to blue and yellow tones. Irregular three-dimensional chevrons sat inside a white circle which itself was placed in a blue square. A white rectangle below contained the bold all-caps wordmark. This Citroen car logo combined geometric strength with familiar colors.

• Design: Circle within square frame
• Colors: Blue square with yellow and white elements
• Changes: Reintroduction of blue and addition of square
• Context: Long-running version through several decades

1985–2009: Red Square with White Chevrons

A dramatic color shift introduced two white chevrons inside a red square. The black wordmark below grew larger with confident lines. This redesign increased brand visibility on vehicles and marketing materials while preserving the essential Citroen symbol.

• Design: Square badge format
• Colors: Red with white chevrons
• Changes: Complete color scheme replacement
• Context: Major update for stronger presence

2009–2016: 3D Chrome by Landor

Landor Associates created a new symmetrical three-dimensional design. Silver-gray was used for the emblem and red for the wordmark. The refreshed Citroen emblem aimed to convey strength and reliability through metallic effects and balanced proportions.

• Design: Symmetrical three-dimensional chevrons
• Colors: Silver-gray and red
• Changes: Return to 3D form with modern proportions
• Context: Professional redesign for premium perception

2016–2019: Flat Gray Design

The design moved to a flat and simple appearance. Gray coloring accompanied a refined custom typeface. This iteration of the Citroen logo focused on minimalism and clarity for contemporary applications.

• Design: Flat geometric chevrons
• Colors: Gray tones
• Changes: Removal of 3D effects and simplification
• Context: Adaptation to digital and modern aesthetics

2019–2022: Darker Gray Refinement

A deeper darker gray shade replaced the previous tone. The chevron elements became more compact and narrow to achieve better visual balance. These adjustments refined the Citroen car symbol without changing its fundamental form.

• Design: Narrower more compact chevrons
• Colors: Deeper gray
• Changes: Subtle proportion and color adjustments
• Context: Fine-tuning for improved harmony

2022–present: Black Oval Badge

The current Citroen logo features a sharp geometric badge with triangular chevrons in plain black enclosed in an oval frame. The futuristic uppercase sans-serif logotype uses horizontally extended characters. Created by Stellantis Design Studio this version is optimized for digital use recyclability and electric vehicle applications including charging port covers.

• Design: Oval frame with geometric chevrons
• Colors: Plain black on white
• Changes: Return to oval shape and flat minimal style
• Context: Designed for electric and digital future

Visual Attributes and Design Elements

The double chevron has remained almost identical in shape across all Citroen logo history versions. Changes have focused instead on surrounding shapes colors dimensionality and typography. Early versions used yellow and blue while later designs shifted toward red white gray and finally plain black.

Common enclosing forms include ovals octagons squares and circles. Typography has evolved from wave-shaped lettering to bold capitals then custom faces and finally a futuristic extended sans-serif. Temporary elements such as the 1932 swan appeared only briefly while the core Citroen symbol derived from helical gears has never changed.

Links Between Company Events and Logo Updates

Several Citroen logo changes coincided with major company milestones. The original 1919 design was created at founding directly inspired by André Citroën’s gear business. The swan variant arrived during the floating engine innovation on the Rosalie.

The 1935 redesign followed both the Michelin takeover and the founder’s death. The 1985 red square was introduced to boost visibility. The 2009 Landor version supported a move toward modern premium positioning. The 2022 black oval aligns with the shift to electric vehicles and digital-first requirements making the Citroen emblem flatter and more recyclable.

This consistent yet evolving visual identity has helped Citroën maintain recognition across more than a century of automotive history.