Son of Amédée Bollée, pioneer of steam locomotion, Léon Bollée launched himself in 1895 in the construction of a small petrol tricycle for which he registered the name of "voiturette". His first four-wheeled cars were less successful than the tricycle but Bollée obtained American capital to produce large luxury cars with 4 then 6 cylinders, with displacements up to 12 liters. After 1919 the products became more reasonable but not very competitive, until the sale of the brand to the English Morris in 1925.