The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was founded in 1810, with a steel foundry that soon started making hand tools and kitchen equipment, and then bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Émile Peugeot applied for the lion trademark. Armand Peugeot (1849–1915) built the company’s first car steam tricycle, in collaboration with Léon Serpollet in 1889; this was followed in 1890 by an internal combustion car with a Panhard-Daimler engine.

The Peugeot company and family are originally from Sochaux. Peugeot retains a large manufacturing plant and Peugeot museum there. In February 2014, the shareholders agreed to a recapitalisation plan for the PSA Group, in which Dongfeng Motors and the French government each bought a 14% stake in the company.

Peugeot has received many international awards for its vehicles, including six European Car of the Year awards.

In 2020 it was announced that a merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA would take place with the combined company being called Stellantis. The merger was confirmed on 4 January 2021, after an overwhelming vote of shareholders from both companies and the deal officially closed on 16 January 2021. Stellantis now owns various well-known brands such as Peugeot, Citroën, Jeep, Maserati (previously owned by Citroën from 1968 through 1975), Chrysler, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, among others.