Founded in 1883 by Jules-Albert de Dion, also known courteously as "the Marquis de Dion," in collaboration with the manufacturer of scientific toys Georges Bouton and his brother-in-law Charles-Armand Trépardoux, the company played a major role in the development of the automobile. Initially established in Puteaux, on Quai National, recently renamed Quai De Dion-Bouton, as well as at the roundabout of La Défense, it quickly gained renown.

Georges Bouton passed away in 1938, followed by Albert de Dion in 1946.

A pioneer in the integral construction of cars, De Dion-Bouton was also a supplier of engines for over fifty brands, including Delage and Renault.

In 1900, De Dion-Bouton was the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, producing four hundred cars and three thousand two hundred engines that year.

During World War I, the company pivoted to production for the French army, manufacturing shells, vehicles, and V-engine aircraft engines, with Farman as a customer as early as 1911.

After the war, the brand resumed the production of limousines, notably offering a V8 engine model later replaced by an inline eight-cylinder towards the end of the 1920s.

However, De Dion-Bouton struggled to expand its customer base and shifted towards the sale of utilities. The 1929 crisis heavily affected it, leading to the cessation of passenger car production in 1932.

A 1908 De Dion Bouton tonneau type CBG, originating from a private collection, embodies a flagship of the French pre-war automotive industry. In impeccable condition, it deserves to hit the road again.