Private company

Brissonneau et Lotz

Logo: Legrand, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

French locomotive and automobile manufacturer based in Nantes, founded in 18781

Brissonneau et Lotz was a French locomotive engineering company that specialized in the production of railway locomotives and wagons. The company was also a supplier of rolling stock to the Paris Metro, constructing in 1951 the first metro trains in the world to be equipped with rubber tyres. In 1972 it was absorbed into Alstom, becoming Alsthom Groupe Brissonneau.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1878Founded1
  • Industryautomotive industry, locomotive manufacturing, manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock (NACE 30.2), vehicle construction1
  • HeadquartersNantes1
  • Legal formsociété à responsabilité limitée1

Brissonneau et Lotz was a French locomotive engineering company that specialized in the production of railway locomotives and wagons. The company was also a supplier of rolling stock to the Paris Metro, constructing in 1951 the first metro trains in the world to be equipped with rubber tyres.2

Products and brands

  • locomotive

Listed on Wikidata.1

In the 1950s Brissonneau and Lotz branched out into automobile production, building a small low volume cabriolet sports car based on the Renault 4CV, which was launched during the summer of 1956. A couple of years later, during 1958 and 1959 the small automobile factory was transformed into a substantial production facility when the company received a contract from Renault to assemble the manufacturer's stylish new Floride model. The Floride, later rebadged as the Renault Caravelle, would continue to be produced at the factory until 1968.

The company was also a contractor for Opel, making the body for the Opel GT sports car. Lower volume production of other car bodies continued until the factory closed in 1996 following an industrial dispute.

From Wikipedia’s article on Brissonneau and Lotz, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1972Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1878Founded Founded1

Sources

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