André Citroën, a visionary
among automobile designers, established himself from the very beginning as
a manufacturer who embraced innovation and was willing to take risks when
he designed and built his automobiles. At the time when he set out to
design and produce his first model, the Type A, the process of building
and buying cars was very different from what it is today. Automobile
manufacturers would only build the engine, drivetrain, and chassis. It was
up to the consumer to contract with a coachworks, who would construct a
body, fit the interior, and complete the finished vehicle.
Citroën decided that this was an inefficient way of making cars, and it
placed too much burden on the consumer. The Type A was designed to be a
complete vehicle. The engine, drivetrain, chassis, and
body and interior were all designed to be manufactured and assembled at
the factory. When a consumer bought a Citroën, he was delivered a complete
vehicle. This was very advanced thinking for the day, and it was not long
before all automobile manufacturers operated in this paradigm.