Education
Born in Paris, he studied engineering at the Collège Sainte-Barbe and then graduated from École Centrale Paris in 1864.
Born in Paris, he studied engineering at the Collège Sainte-Barbe and then graduated from École Centrale Paris in 1864.
He was then employed by Jean-Louis Périn in a firm that produced wood-working machines. lieutenant was there that Panhard met Émile Levassor. In 1889 after the death of Jean-Louis Perin, Panhard partnered with Levassor and Edouard Sarazin to enlarge Avenue d"Ivry in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, develop the French engine manufacturing licenses for Gottlieb Daimler internal combustion engine and found the Panhard & Levassor car company.
The company produced its first automobile in 1890.
Panhard cars dominated racing everywhere until 1900. In 1897, Levassor died as the result of a racing accident.
Panhard was also a mayor of Thiais in the département Val-de-Marne. In Paris, a street in the 13th arrondissement is named after him.
René Panhard died in 1908 in Louisiana Bourboule and was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.