Company overview
Matra was established in 1945 as a French industrial conglomerate with diverse operations including aerospace, defense, automotive, motorsports, transport, and telecommunications. Initially focused on aircraft engine development, Matra became involved in car manufacturing through the acquisition of Automobiles René Bonnet and later produced a range of vehicles such as the Djet, 530, Bagheera, Murena and Rancho. By the early 1970s, Matra sold its car division to Chrysler Europe and subsequently to Peugeot. The company expanded into media through the purchase of Hachette in 1981 and pursued a strategy of mergers and acquisitions throughout the 1970s and 1980s, culminating in the formation of Matra Hachette. In 1999, Matra Hautes Technologies merged with Aérospatiale to form Aérospatiale-Matra, which later became part of EADS/Airbus. Matra's defense division produced a variety of missiles and weapons systems, including the R.511, R.530, Super 530, MICA and Otomat. Production of the Renault Espace, a significant commercial success, played a key role in Matra's automotive fortunes. Ultimately, Matra Automobiles declared bankruptcy in 2003 and its assets were sold off.
