The origins of the D’Ieteren family go
back to the
XVIth century, in the villages of
Dieteren, Sittard, Schinnen and Puth, in
Dutch Limbourg in the North-East of
Maastricht.
At the beginning of the years 1780,
Jan-Gaspar D’Ieteren emigrated in
Brussels where he settled and married
in 1784. His son, Jean-Joseph D’Ieteren,
founder of the line of the coach-builders
of Brussels, was born on March 7, 1785.
One finds the name of Jean-Joseph in
the registers of census of the town of
Brussels in 1799 and 1802 when he
appeared as wheelwright apprentice
then wheelwright worker.
In 1805 Jean-Joseph D'Ieteren, then 20 years old, starts to work in his proper name, that is to say 6 years after the beginning of its period of training. Jean-Joseph
D’Ieteren establishes his workshop in
the centre of the town of Brussels. He
occupies himself at his beginnings exclusively
of wheelwright and coach-building.
Just before the revolution of 1830, he
become a raftered craftsman and attracted
the public's attention at the "Exposition
Générale des Produits de l'Industrie"
held in Brussels.
Jean-Joseph D’Ieteren dies in 1831 and
leaves his heritage to his two sons: the
elder, Adolphe (1811-1872), continues
the wheelwright activity while
Alexandre (1817-1903), goes to Paris to
improve in drawing and coach-building.
He returns to Belgium in 1849 and the
two brothers join to form from now on
"D’Ieteren Frères".
In 1857, Alexandre separates from his
brother and settles in new workshops
in "rue Neuve" under the name "Alexandre D’Ieteren" by associating
wheelwright work to paintwork and garnishing activities.
His elder son,
Alfred D’Ieteren, (1853-1947), is sent by
his father to a blacksmith, supplier of
cars, in Paris. His second son, Emile (1856-1922),starts a training of painting and attends
the Academy of the Art schools of
Brussels. In 1873, Alexandre D’Ieteren
undertakes in "chaussée de Charleroi" the
construction of a new workshop joining
together all the trades of a bodywork
manufacture. Alfred deals with the forging
mill while Emile supervises the workshop
of painting.
Alexandre retires in 1878.
His two sons succeed to him and take
up the corporate name "D’Ieteren
Frères".
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Company today |
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Services to the motorists.
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D'Ieteren comprises three evenly balanced activities. These activities are :
Automobile distribution in Belgium of the Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche makes, as well as Yamaha and MBK motorcycles.
Short-term car rental in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia through Avis Europe plc and its brands Avis and Budget.
Vehicle glass repair and replacement in Europe, Canada, Brazil, the United States, Australia and New Zealand through Belron s.a. and notably its brands CARGLASS® and AUTOGLASS®.
The group's strategy is to be the best «parent» for each activity.
The group always attempts to contribute its extensive knowledge of the
automobile sector, its ability for anticipation and adaptability, its long-term
vision, its entrepreneurship spirit and its will to invest wisely.
The strength of the group rests on a decentralised organisation that is flexible
and close to the customer, combined with a capacity for dialogue and sharing of
best practices in terms of, for example, logistics, brand management,
distribution networks or performance management.
Today, the group, which achieved in 2006
revenue of 5.3 billion Euros, is operating
on the 5 continents in 110 countries with
a total of around 26,000 employees who
serve 14 millions motorists each year.
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Key Dates of the
Company's History |
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1805
1857
1880 |
In 1805 Jean-Joseph D’Ieteren, starts to work in his own name, at the age of 20.
In 1857, Alexandre (here in medallion) separates from his
brother and settles in new workshops
in "rue Neuve" under the name
"Alexandre D’Ieteren" by associating
wheelwright work to paintwork and garnishing activities.
His two sons succeed to him and take
up the corporate name "D’Ieteren
Frères". The company exposes in 1880 to the
Fiftieth Anniversary of Independence
Exhibition and, in 1896, Alfred becomes
secretary founder and vice-president of
the Belgian Trade-Union Chamber of
the Bodywork and Additional Industries.
The two brothers become suppliers to
the Royal Court of Belgium and, in
1905, the company receives from
King Léopold II an order for a landau to be used at the official ceremonies.
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1897
1911
1919
1922
1930
1935
1948
1950
1956
1958
1972
1974
1975
1989
1999
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The end of the 19th century sees the birth
of the car.The year 1897 inaugurates this
new era and the new trade of car-body
making with the delivery by D’Ieteren of
an electric Dog-cart with four places
designed for the General Company of
Automobile Transport. The first bodies
of this new universe present various types:
small cars, limousine,... The workshops
become too exiguous for the construction
of the cars, which requires more space
than the harnessed cars. The firm thus
undertakes the construction of vaster
workshops located at the number 50 of
the "rue du Mail", place which still
remains today the headquarter of the
company.
Lucien, Alfred D’Ieteren’s son (1880-
1966), takes, during the last years which
precede the First World War, many
responsibilities to gradually replace
his father close by his uncle Emile. In
1911 the production takes off following
a significant order of Delaunay-Belleville. Unfortunately the war will
carry a crushing blow to the progression
of the bodywork.
In 1919, Emile and Lucien transform the
company "D’Ieteren Frères" and constitute
the " société anonyme Anciens
Etablissements D'Ieteren Frères", a new
corporate name which will perpetuate
the work of the workshops of the "rue
du Mail". The production begins again
on the basis of chassis of all makes.
Emile D’Ieteren dies in 1922 and Lucien
remains alone at the head of the company.
He will undertake the export of bodywork
at such points that in 1928 more
than 65% of the bodyworks are for
abroad (the United States, Argentina,
the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Egypt).
In 1930, the balance sheet of
D’Ieteren’s productions mentions a
number of more than 1,000 bodywork
built in 5 years, a very significant figure
for the time.
In the beginning of the years 1930, the
bodywork activity is gradually abandoned.
The "Anciens Etablisse-ments D'Ieteren
Frères" devotes themselves to the
importation of American cars
Studebaker, Pierce-Arrow and Auburn. In
1935, the company begins the assembly
of Studebaker vehicles. For the next
35 years, this will be one of the company's
main activities.
In 1948, Pierre D'Ieteren
(1912-1975), son of Lucien, signs an
import agreement with Volkswagen. A
few months later, the famous Beetle is
launched in Belgium. A new factory of
assembly is built in Forest nearby
Brussels from which turns out the first
Studebaker in April 1949.
In 1950,
D’Ieteren becomes exclusive importer
of Porsche and, in 1954, the assembly of
the Beetle begins in Forest.
In 1956, D'Ieteren enters the short-term
car rental market.An agreement is signed
with the Belgian railway company:
Beetles are made available for rent at
the main railway stations in Belgium.
In
1958, during the Brussels World Fair,
Dit'Rent-a-Car, D'Ieteren rental division,
becomes an Avis licensee.
In 1972, Pierre’s son, Roland D’Ieteren,
becomes Assistant Director of the company.
In 1974, the company changes
its old denomination to become "s.a.
D’IETEREN n.v.» This same year, the
company obtains the importation of
the Audi brands and NSU and launches
the VW Golf that will become the
Volkswagen bestseller.
Pierre D’Ieteren dies and Roland
takes his succession. Followed from
there during the following decades the
importation of the Yamaha motorbikes
and MBK scooters, the automobile
brands Seat, Skoda, Bentley and
Lamborghini.
D’Ieteren becomes the majority
shareholder of Avis Europe, following a
long period of partnership of almost
30 years. This acquisition makes it possible
for D’Ieteren to take foot on the international
market.With around 8 million customers
per year, Avis Europe is present in
Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia
with the Avis and Budget brands. In 2005,
D’Ieteren holds 59.6% of the capital of
the company.
D’Ieteren acquires Belron, the
world-wide leader in vehicle glass repair
and replacement. Belron operates
through more than 1,500 service centres
and around 6,500 mobile repair vehicles in
Europe, North and South America,
Australia and New Zealand. In 2007,
D’Ieteren owns 73.38% of the capital of
the company.
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