Peugeot-Citroen Mourns after Bertrand Peugeot

As if the poor sales scored by the French automaker last year weren't already overwhelming for the French automaker, Peugeot-Citroen has now another reason of sadness.

Unfortunately, father of Peugeot-Citroen merger, Bertrand Peugeot has died at the age of 85, Autonews has learned. This year, Valentines Day wasn't a happy holiday for Peugeot-Citroen as February 14, 2009 also marks the day when one of the French car maker's symbols left this world

Bertrand Peugeot was the grandson of Robert Peugeot who created the Peugeot automobile company at the end of the 19th century. He was the man who managed to steer the fusion between Peugeot and Citroen in the mid 1970s.

What's more, Bertrand Peugeot was appointed vice chairman of Peugeot's supervisory board in 1972. He held this position until 1999.

Bertrand was indeed a man of action and he will always be remembered as a man who gave birth to an union that was to make history in the automotive industry. His name will be carried away by his sons Christian and Robert Peugeot.

Currently, Christian Peugeot occupies the position of director of communications and strategy for the Peugeot brand. As for Robert Peugeot, he was PSA's director of innovation and quality from 1998-2007, while he now leads the Peugeot family holding company.

Last year was extremely difficult for the car maker, especially at the end when the economic recession started slashing sales, workforce and profits all over the world. The PSA Peugeot Citroen group announced their sales fell by 7.4 percent.