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How it started
Early life
By the late 1890s, Py was active in the Charente region of southwestern France. He live in the city of Angoulême.
Cycling career
In the 1890s, France's vibrant cycling culture and industry provided the foundation for early automobile experimentation. By 1898, he had designed a small motor vehicle inspired by motorized tricycles and bicycle technology. That year, he prepared a prototype of a three-wheeled "voiturette" (a light horseless carriage) for public display. In December 1898, at the inaugural Paris Motor Show held at the Jardin des Tuileries, Py exhibited his front-wheel-drive motor tricycle to advertise his design. The vehicle attracted interest due to its unconventional layout, which was reminiscent of Léon Bollée’s famous three-wheeler but with key differences.
Following this debut, Py partnered with local investors to manufacture the car. He helped found the Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest, based in Angoulême, in early 1899 to produce his vehicle commercially. Py assumed the role of designer and technical director. Production of the car - marketed simply as the "André Py" voiturette - began in 1899.
From Wikipedia’s article on Andre Py, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2