Peugeot Trademarks Larger-Displacement Models

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Peugeot’s PM-01 300 is powered by a Chinese-sourced single. (Peugeot/)

Peugeot makes a claim to being the world’s oldest motorcycle company, having turned out its first machine back in 1898. After a long spell producing nothing but scooters the brand made a return to “real” motorcycles in 2022 with the unveiling of the PM-01 in 125cc and 300cc forms.

Now, it looks like there are plans to expand that range, with Peugeot having filed trademark applications in the European Union for the names PM-02, PM-03, and PM-05, all specifically intended for use on motorcycles. The “PM” names distinguish these machines from the brand’s scooters, so the implication is that these will be larger-capacity machines.

The Peugeot name dates to the early 1800s. The company’s roots started back in 1810 as a steel foundry, and like many others it expanded into bicycles, cars, and motorcycles as the technology developed. However, Peugeot Motocycles (yes, “Motocycles” not Motorcycles) today isn’t tied to the car brand of the same name. Back in 2014 a controlling stake in the motorcycle and scooter arm was sold off to Indian giant Mahindra, and with the rest of the company going to the same ownership in 2019, severing ties to its original parent. In 2023, Mahindra sold a controlling stake to equity firm Mutares in Munich, which controls the brand today. Meanwhile, Peugeot’s car brand is now part of the Stellantis multinational that also owns Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Citroën, as well as several other automotive companies.

The Peugeot PM-01 125 was the first motorcycle the company produced under its new ownership. (Peugeot/)

Although unveiled in 2022, the larger PM-01 300, powered by a 29 hp, 292cc single-cylinder engine of Chinese origin, is due in production later this year, with Peugeot having prioritized the 125cc version. Both models look nearly identical, with a distinctive headlight design that’s meant to be reminiscent of a lion’s claw—the lion being Peugeot’s mascot. The engine in the PM-01 300 is made by Qianjiang, using a 78mm bore and 61.2mm stroke, and is essentially a big-bore version of the design used in the Chinese company’s 249cc QJiang Honor 250 cruiser. CFMoto’s 300CL-X engine also shares a similar bore, stroke, and power output as well as some other design cues with the Peugeot single.

There are already rumors that Peugeot’s next bikes, the PM-02, PM-03, and PM-05, as revealed in the trademark applications, will include larger-capacity and multicylinder machines. What we know for certain is that the trademark applications were made after the current owners took control of the company, so they’re not leftover remnants of plans made during Mahindra’s stewardship of the brand.

Since its Mutares takeover, Peugeot has also forged a partnership with French EV motorcycle maker DAB Motors, promising to mass-produce DAB-branded electric motorcycles by leveraging Peugeot’s manufacturing expertise, while Peugeot will be able to create its own range of electric motorcycles using DAB Motors’ technology, raising the possibility that one or more of the new trademarks could be applied to battery-powered bikes.

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