The Company in 1926
- To meet the needs of steadily increasing production, Citroën adopts Taylor's method of specializing each plant in a particular activity.
- The Grenelle factory comes on line in the 15th district of Paris. Its job is to make front axles and final drive assemblies for the new B14.
- A factory and research laboratory are placed at the disposal of the technical studies and quality control office.
- Citroën publishes its first standard service and repair manual for dealers, together with a list of spare parts. The marque also develops a replacement policy for standard mechanical parts.
Zoom
5 HP Type C3 Torpedo Trefle 3 seats
- An animated model invented for children proves to be just as interesting to adults. Measuring 15 m by 2 m, it shows the assembly facilities in the Javel factory. The model preludes the introduction of guided tours round Citroën's plants.
- The first Belgian car assembly plant comes into operation at Brussels-Forest, where it produces the 5CV, the B12 and the B14. A second new factory - considered to be one of the most modern is the country - comes on line in the British town of Slough, where it begins body production and assembly of the 5CV Trèfle. Another factory in Cologne, Germa-ny, assembles the B14, C4 and C6, while yet another in Milan, Italy, assembles the 5CV Trèfle, C4 and C6.
- Annual production : 50 404 vehicles.
The models in 1926
B14 : 1926-1928
production : 119.467
- The B14 is launched at the Paris Motor Show in October, with a 1,539 cm3 engine developing 22 bhp at 2,300 rpm. Rated 9 bhp, the B14 is equipped with a 3-speed gearbox. It travels at 80 km/h and consumes 8.5 litres/100 km.
- A mass-market car with luxury equipment (such as a modern, fully completely equipped dashboard with indirect lighting), the B14 becomes known as "The Indefatigable" and proves to be one of the great motoring success stories of the years between the wars. It is available as a saloon, an open commercial tourer, a 2-seat or 4-seat convertible, a 2-door, 4-seat "coach", a six-window limousine and a 7-seat family vehicle.
- September sees the arrival of the B15. The first French utility vehicle with a closed cabin, the B15 is based on B14 mechanical components and offers a payload of 1,000 kg. Between September 1926 and August 1928, 12,566 examples are made.
- Of the 600,000 vehicles on French roads, 175,000 are Citroëns.
In the news in 1926
- Hirohito becomes Emperor of Japan.
- The first liquid-fuel rocket is tested in the USA.
- A military dictatorship is established in Portugal.
- In the world of cinema, Fritz Lang's Metropolis pioneers the science fiction genre.
- Georges Bernanos publishes Under the Sun of Satan and Henry de Montherlant The Bullfighters. A.A. Milne writes Winnie the Pooh.