Company overview
Panhard was established in 1887 as an automobile manufacturer, initially under the name Panhard et Levassor. René Panhard, Émile Levassor, and Edouard Sarazin founded the company. Early vehicles relied on Daimler engines and featured innovative designs such as a front-mounted radiator and a chain-driven gearbox. By 1891, Panhard et Levassor produced the Système Panhard, a standard automobile layout for much of the 20th century. In 1895, they achieved success at the Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race and pioneered sleeve valve engine technology. During World War I, Panhard produced military vehicles, including presidential cars for Raymond Poincaré and large numbers of trucks and gun components. After the war, the company focused on passenger cars like the Dyna series, incorporating aluminum body panels and utilizing a flat-twin engine. In 2004, Auverland acquired Panhard, and in 2012, Renault Trucks Defense completed the acquisition. Today, Panhard is primarily known for its Panhard rod suspension component and continues to produce military vehicles such as the VBL, PVP, and EBR. Over 18,000 military wheeled vehicles have been supplied to over 50 countries.
