In 1923, in a mechanical workshop at Saint-Ouen near Paris, French industrial visionary Eugène Buisson obtained the license to distribute and manufacture Ferodo friction brake linings and automotive clutches. Founding the Société Anonyme Française du Ferodo, Buisson laid the bedrock of Valeo—a global automotive technological titan whose interwar transmission innovations transformed European mobility and vehicle safety.
The Ateliers of Saint-Ouen: Friction Materials in the Roaring Twenties
During the rapid automotive boom of the 1920s, European carmakers like Renault, Citroën, and Peugeot struggled with fragile, leather-faced conical clutches that slipped and overheated under continuous use. In 1923, Eugène Buisson realized that modern internal combustion engines demanded heat-resistant, mineral-woven friction facings. Establishing his manufacturing works on Rue de Paris in Saint-Ouen, Buisson began producing molded friction linings that revolutionized mechanical clutch assemblies.
By 1932, the company diversified into complete clutch systems, securing exclusive OEM partnerships across French motor manufacturing and standardizing the dry single-plate clutch across continental Europe.
From Ferodo to Valeo: Thermal Management and Global Mobility
Following decades of electromechanical expansion into automotive lighting, starters, and thermal cooling systems, the group adopted the Latin name Valeo (“I am well / I am strong”) in 1980 to unify its global identity. Today, Valeo stands as a global market leader in autonomous driving assistance, electrification, and smart thermal cabins.
Preserving its founding roots along the Seine in Saint-Ouen, Valeo continues Buisson’s interwar commitment to mechanical safety, transforming a century of friction engineering into sustainable electric mobility.
Inaugurato a Torino il 36° salone dell'Automobile
Immagini d'archivio storico dell'Istituto Luce che testimoniano i grandi saloni dell'automobile del Novecento, con i motori, le carrozzerie e la componentistica di precisione. (Fonte: Archivio Storico Istituto Luce Cinecittà)
Interactive 360° Heritage View: Valeo Historic Automotive Quarter & Saint-Ouen Campus
Historical Location: 43 Rue Bayen / Saint-Ouen, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France (Coordinates: 48.9112, 2.3325)
