View source for Matra

{{Short description|Former French company}}
{{about|the French automobile, aeronautics and weaponry company}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Matra
| logo = Matra logo.gif
| location_city = [[Romorantin-Lanthenay]]
| location_country = France
| founders = [[Jean-Luc Lagardère]]<br />Marcel Chassagny
| foundation = 1945
| defunct = 2003
| fate = [[Bankruptcy]]
| industry = [[Conglomerate (company)|Conglomerate]]
| products = [[Automobile]]s, [[aeronautic]]s and weaponry
}}

'''Matra''' (an [[acronym]] for Mécanique Aviation Traction) was a major French industrial [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]]. Its business activities covered a wide range of industries, notably [[aerospace manufacturer|aerospace]], [[defence industry|defence]], [[automotive industry|automotive]], [[motorsports]], [[transport]] and [[telecommunications]].

Following the acquisition of vehicle manufacturer [[Automobiles René Bonnet]], the company founded '''Matra Automobiles''' during the 1960s, which produced a limited range of racing and sports cars. Its car division worked closely with other vehicle manufacturers, most significantly [[Renault]], prior to the decline and sale of Matra Automobiles during the early 2000s. In addition to road cars, Matra entered into a wide range of businesses, eventually diversifying into [[Media (communication)|media]], weaponry, aeronautics, automobiles, and music distribution.

Matra was at one point owned by the [[Floirat]] family. Throughout much of the company's existence, French businessman [[Jean-Luc Lagardère]] was the [[CEO]] of Matra. In 1988, Matra was [[privatization|privatised]]; Lagardère's stake in the company grew considerably over the following years. 

In 1994, Matra became a [[subsidiary]] of the [[Lagardère Group]] and in February 1999, '''Matra Hautes Technologies''' (''MHT''), which represented the conglomerate's aerospace, defence and telecommunications arm, was merged with the French aerospace corporation [[Aérospatiale]] to form '''Aérospatiale-Matra''' (now [[Airbus]]). Several former assets of Matra continue to operate under the Lagardère name.

Privatization, bleeding through the Lagardère Group, sell-off of its profitable enterprises, and failure of its automotive division caught up and Matra went bankrupt in 2003.

==Overview==
During 1945, Matra (Mécanique Aviation Traction) was established, immediately beginning development of an ambitious twin-engine aircraft intended to be the fastest [[propeller]]-driven plane in the world.<ref name = "officialhistory 19451980"/> In 1951, the [[sound barrier]] was broken in horizontal flight for the first time in Europe by an aircraft using a Matra-built engine. During 1961, Matra became involved in the early European space programme, having been appointed as the first prime contractor for [[satellite]]s.<ref name = "officialhistory 19451980">{{cite web |url = https://www.lagardere.com/group/history/1945-1980-541.html |title = History: 1945-1980 |publisher = Lagardere |access-date = 26 March 2020}}</ref>

During 1963, French businessman [[Jean-Luc Lagardère]] was appointed [[CEO]] of Matra; he would be a key figure at the company for the following three decades. At the time of Lagardère's appointment, the firm had a workforce of 1,450.<ref name = "officialhistory 19451980"/> During 1964, Matra became the owner of car manufacturer [[Automobiles René Bonnet]].<ref name = "grandprix"/> For a time, Matra was largely centred around its vehicle division, ''Matra Automobiles''. However, within a decade, Matra had sold its road car division to American-owned car manufacturer [[Chrysler Europe]], having shifted focus onto its other growing business activities.<ref name = "grandprix"/>

During the 1970s, Lagardère pursued an overall strategy of merging Matra with various other companies, or acquiring them outright, to build up a [[conglomerate (business)|conglomerate]] under the Matra brand. Throughout the 1970s, the company strengthened and grew its position within the aerospace sector, which had been viewed as a core business of Matra.<ref name = "grandprix"/> One such company was the electrical equipment manufacturer Électronique Moderne de l’Oise, which became Matra Électronique following its acquisition during 1975.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.matra-electronique.com/en/historique/ |title = History |publisher = Matra Électronique |access-date = 25 March 2020}}</ref> That same year, the [[CNES|National Centre for Space Studies]] (CNES) and the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) awarded a contract to Matra for the loading bay of the new [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane]] [[expendable launch system]].<ref name = "officialhistory 19451980"/>

Over several decades, Matra diversified into [[Media (communication)|media]], weaponry, aeronautics, automobiles, music distribution, and various other state of the art technologies. During 1981, Matra ventured into media activities via the purchase of the [[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette]] publishing company.<ref name = "grandprix"/> Matra invested in several fields of transportation during the 1980s and 1990s. It produced a fiberglass 14&nbsp;ft sailing [[dinghy]] with an innovative double-bottom, self-bailing hull, called "Capricorne". Though several hundred were sold and a class association briefly existed, it was unable to gain much market share against the better established [[420 (dinghy)|International 420]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} During 1983, Matra launched an automatic (driverless) light [[rubber-tyred metro|rubber-tyred]] [[rapid transit|metro]], the [[Véhicule Automatique Léger]].<ref name = "officialhistory 19451980"/> It later attempted to produce a [[personal rapid transit]] system, which it named "[[Aramis (personal rapid transit)|Aramis]]".{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} Matra also manufactured a range of [[electric bicycle]]s and [[Electric motorcycles and scooters|electric scooter]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matra-ms.com/en/light-electric-vehicles/matra-sports.html |title=MATRA - Véhicules Légers Electriques |publisher=Matra-ms.com |date=23 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613155925/http://www.matra-ms.com/en/light-electric-vehicles/matra-sports.html |archive-date=13 June 2008 }}</ref> [[Matra i-step]] Runner, Tourer and Force as well as [[Matra i-flow]] in [[Romorantin]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} Matra developed and released a [[personal computer]], the [[Matra Alice|Alice]].

Matra, along with [[Harris Corporation]], attempted to position itself as a leading semiconductor operation in Europe, establishing Matra-Harris Semiconducteurs (MHS) in 1979. Starting with Harris' [[CMOS]] fabrication process and targeting high-performance, high-volume niches, the company diversified into microprocessors and gate arrays, finally recording a profit in 1984.<ref name="electronicsweek19841119_matra">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/electronics_week-1984_11_19/page/60/mode/1up | title=Franco-American chip firm’s fortunes come out of the woods | magazine=Electronics Week | last1=Gallagher | first1=Robert T. | date=19 November 1984 | access-date=18 September 2025 | pages=60 }}</ref> To supply its microprocessor production, MHS secured a licensing agreement with Intel in 1981 for the production of Intel's 8086, 8088, 8051 and 8052 families using an [[NMOS logic|NMOS]] process, alongside Harris' 80C86 and 80C88 parts. The company also manufactured memory product designs from [[Cypress Semiconductor]].<ref name="mhs_memories">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_mhsdataBoo_13440875/page/n3/mode/1up | title=Memories | publisher=MHS | date=September 1989 | access-date=18 September 2025 | pages=1 }}</ref> Consolidation in the European semiconductor industry saw [[AEG (German company)|AEG]] acquire 50% of MHS in 1989.<ref name="unigramx19890925_matra">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1989212-262/page/n235/mode/1up | title=AEG to Buy 50% of Matra's Matra-MHS Chip Business | work=Unigram/X | date=25 September 1989 | access-date=18 September 2025 | pages=6 }}</ref>

During 1988, Matra was [[privatization|privatised]], at which point Lagardère acquired six per cent of the company's stock; by 1992, his stake in Matra had risen to 25 per cent.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} That same year, the Lagardère Group was radically restructured; acquiring more shares in Matra from Floirat, Daimler Benz and GEC, and Hachette from Floirat, Crédit Lyonnais and Aberly. Lagardère merged Matra and Hachette to form Matra Hachette, of which the Lagardère Group held 37.6 per cent.<ref name = "officialhistory 19921999">{{cite web |url = https://www.lagardere.com/group/history/1992-1999-536.html |title = History: 1992-1999 |publisher = Lagardere |access-date = 26 March 2020}}</ref> Following a share swap in 1994, Lagardère held 93.3 per cent of Matra Hachette's stock. During 1996, Matra Hachette was formally merged into the Lagardère Group.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In February 1999, the firm's defence wing, Matra Hautes Technologies, was merged with French aerospace conglomerate [[Aérospatiale]] to form [[Aérospatiale-Matra]].<ref name = "aeromatra 1999"/> During 2003, following poor financial performances within the sector, Matra Automobiles became [[bankrupt]] and its assets were sold off once more. Instead, Matra decided to concentrate its resources on its remaining interests within the media and aerospace sectors.<ref name = "grandprix"/>

==Matra Automobiles==
[[File:Matra-530-avant.jpg|thumb|right|Matra 530]]
[[File:Matra-Simca Bagheera-grey-2.jpg|thumb|Matra Bagheera]]
[[File:MHV Matra 530.jpg|thumb|Matra 530 at OFK exhibition, Koenigsbrunn (Germany), 2006]]

Matra had been involved in car manufacturing since the acquisition of [[Automobiles René Bonnet]] in 1963.<ref name = "grandprix"/> The first road car to be sold under the Matra marque was the [[Renault]]-powered [[Matra Djet]] (pronounced "jet"), which was an update of the Bonnet Jet; the Djet was subsequently replaced with the Matra 530, [[Matra Bagheera|Bagheera]], the [[Matra Murena|Murena]] and the [[Matra Rancho|Rancho]], an early type of [[sport utility vehicle]] (SUV).{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} At its peak, Matra Automobiles was manufacturing 60,000 vehicles per year at its plant in [[Romorantin-Lanthenay]].<ref name = "justauto"/>

Lagardere, recognising the promotion value of the [[motorsport]] sector for garnering sales, decided that the company ought to be involved, leading to the creation of [[Equipe Matra Sports]], which entered the French [[Formula 3]] during 1965.<ref name = "grandprix">{{cite web |url = https://www.grandprix.com/news/the-end-for-matra-automobiles.html |title = The end for Matra Automobiles |publisher = grandprix.com |date = 12 March 2003}}</ref> Throughout the mid-1960s, Matra enjoyed considerable success in Formula 3 and [[Formula 2]] racing with its MS5 [[monocoque]]-based car, winning both the French and European championships. Matra competed as a constructor in [[Formula One]] from {{F1|1967}} to {{F1|1972}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matra |url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/matra.aspx |access-date=12 April 2025 |website=StatsF1}}</ref> and as an engine supplier between {{F1|1975}} and {{F1|1982}},<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/moteur-matra.aspx |title=Matra |website=StatsF1 |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> winning the Drivers' and Constructors' championships in {{F1|1969}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1969/drivers.html |title=1969 Driver Standings |website=formula1.com |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1969/team.html |title=1969 Constructor Standings |website=formula1.com |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> Matra also competed in [[sports car racing]] from 1966 to 1974 winning the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] outright in [[1972 24 Hours of Le Mans|1972]],<ref name="Le Mans">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/sports/automobile-racing/Winners-of-24-Hours-of-Le-Mans |title=Winners of 24 Hours of Le Mans |website=britannica.com |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> [[1973 24 Hours of Le Mans|1973]]<ref name="Le Mans"/> and [[1974 24 Hours of Le Mans|1974]]<ref name="Le Mans"/> and the [[World Championship for Makes]] in [[1973 World Sportscar Championship season|1973]] and [[1974 World Sportscar Championship season|1974]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.classicscars.com/wspr/results/wscc/tablemsmakes.html#1973- |title=World Championship - final positions and tables |website=classiccars.com |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> However, at the end of the 1974 season, Matra announced that it had decided to withdraw from all motorsport involvement.<ref name = "grandprix"/>

During the early 1970s, Matra sold its car division to [[United States|American]]-owned car manufacturer [[Chrysler Europe]].<ref name = "grandprix"/> Matra Automobiles was subsequently sold by Chrysler Europe to French car company [[Peugeot]]; during 1983, Lagardere arranged to buy the division back. Shortly thereafter, a strategic partnership was formed between Matra and French vehicle company [[Renault]], leading to the development of the [[Renault Espace|Espace]] [[minivan]].<ref name = "grandprix"/>

During 1984, the Matra-built Espace was launched onto the market; this car proved to be a commercial success over multiple decades.<ref name = "justauto"/> Due to this success, this single vehicle type became extremely impactful to the fortunes of Matra Automobiles. Following on from the first generation of the Espace, Matra Automobiles went on to manufacture the next two generations as well; however, the fourth iteration was manufactured inhouse by Renault instead. The loss of the Espace business quickly proved detrimental to the firm's finances.<ref name = "justauto"/><ref name = "grandprix"/>

During 2001, production of the [[Renault Avantime]], which was co-designed and built by Matra Automobiles, commenced; this vehicle did not sell well and was widely regarded as a failure.<ref name = "justauto"/> By the early 2000s, Matra was reportedly keen to end its involvement with the automotive industry. Following the discontinuation of the Avantime, on 27 February 2003, Matra Automobiles announced its intention to close its Romorantin vehicle factory just one month later.<ref name = "justauto">{{cite web |url = https://www.just-auto.com/news/matras-old-renault-factories-are-auctioned-off-bit-by-bit_id68609.aspx |title = ANALYSIS: Matra's old Renault factories are auctioned off, bit-by-bit |publisher = Just Auto |access-date = 25 March 2020}}</ref> The dismantling of the division was necessitated by Matra Automobiles having been declared [[bankrupt]].<ref name = "justauto"/>

During September 2003, [[Pininfarina SpA]] acquired Matra Automobile's engineering, testing and prototype businesses; the company was subsequently named Matra Automobile Engineering.<ref name = "justauto"/> On 13 January 2009, Pininfarina sold its share in Matra Automobile Engineering to [[Segula Technologies]].

===Street models===
* [[Matra Djet]]
* [[Matra 530]]
* [[Matra Bagheera]]
* [[Matra Murena]]
* [[Matra Rancho]]
* [[Renault Espace]]
* [[Renault Avantime]]

==Matra Hautes Technologies==
''Matra Hautes Technologies'' (''MHT'') was the defence arm of the firm. The division was involved in [[aerospace]], defence and [[telecommunications]].

During 1990, Matra Espace and the aerospace division of British electronics specialist [[GEC Marconi]] merged, creating ''Matra Marconi Space''; the company had claimed this entity to have been the leading aerospace company in the European market at the time.<ref name = "officialhistory 19811991">{{cite web |url = https://www.lagardere.com/group/history/1981-1991-534.html |title = History: 1981-1991 |publisher = Lagardere |access-date = 26 March 2020}}</ref> Six years later, Matra Défense and British missile manufacturer [[BAe Dynamics]] merged to form [[Matra BAe Dynamics]], a leading weapons manufacturer in Europe as well as the third largest in the world at the time.<ref name = "officialhistory 19921999"/> During February 1999, MHT merged with French aerospace conglomerate [[Aérospatiale]] to form [[Aérospatiale-Matra]]. On 10 July 2000, Aérospatiale-Matra merged with [[Spain|Spanish]] aircraft company [[CASA (aircraft manufacturer)|CASA]] and [[Germany|German]] aerospace firm [[DASA]] to become part of [[Airbus|EADS]], which subsequently became the [[Airbus|Airbus Group]].<ref name = "aeromatra 1999">{{cite web |url = https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/financial-and-company-information/Aerospatiale-Matra-Annual-Report-1999.pdf |title = Annual Report 1999 |publisher = Aérospatiale-Matra |date = 1999}}</ref>

===Divisions (as of Aérospatiale merger)===
* Matra Défense
* Matra Systèmes & Information
* [[Matra BAe Dynamics]] (50% [[British Aerospace]]), formed in 1996, Matra BAe Dynamics brought together the missile business of BAe ([[BAe Dynamics]]) and half of the missile business of Matra Défense. (The other half remained as [[Aerospatiale Matra Missiles]]).
* [[Matra Marconi Space]] (49% [[General Electric Company|GEC]]), was the space division of Matra which merged with the space operations of GEC ([[Marconi Space Systems]]) in 1989 to form Matra Marconi Space. In 2000, it was merged with the space division of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG ([[DaimlerChrysler Aerospace|DASA]]) to form [[EADS Astrium|Astrium]]. This was later renamed to EADS Astrium.
* Matra Nortel Communications (50% [[Nortel]])

===Weapons produced===
* [[R.511]] air to air missiles
* [[R.530]] air to air missiles
* [[Super 530]] air to air missiles
* [[R.550 Magic]] air to air missiles
* [[MICA (missile)|MICA]] air to air missiles
* [[R.422]] surface to air missiles
* [[Mistral (missile)|Mistral]] anti-aircraft missiles
* [[Martel (missile)|Martel]] anti-radar and anti-shipping missiles in association with [[Hawker Siddeley]]
* [[ARMAT]] anti-radar missiles
* [[Otomat]] anti-shipping missiles in association with [[Oto Melara]]
* [[BLG 66 Belouga]] cluster bombs
* [[Matra Durandal|Durandal]] anti-runway bombs
* Pods for the [[SNEB]] unguided rocket

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last1=Moulin|first1=Jacques|title=Matra avant les missiles: Les avions de Roger Robert|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=May 2003 |issue=402|pages=36–49|issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=Matra before the Missiles: The Aircraft of Roger Robert}}

==External links==
* {{official|http://www.matra.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080624152727/http://www.matraclub.com/ matraclub.com]
* [http://www.matra-automobile.com/en/ matra-automobile.com]
* [http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Espace/espace-index.html History of Renault Espace includes opinions about demise of Matra]

{{Matra car timeline}}
{{French bicycle manufacturers}}
{{Automotive industry in France}}

[[Category:Matra| ]]
[[Category:Aerospace companies of France]]
[[Category:Car manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Cycle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Defence companies of France]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Privatised companies of France]]
[[Category:French brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Centre-Val de Loire]]
[[Category:Contract vehicle manufacturers]]
[[Category:Sports car manufacturers]]
[[Category:French companies established in 1945]]
[[Category:2003 disestablishments in France]]