The bicycle manufacturer Georges Richard founded the company Société des Anciens Établissements Georges Richard for the production of automobiles in 1896. Production of the range named “trèfle à quatrefeuilles”, after the four leaf clover adopted as a brand by the industrialist, began with a 2.3/4 hp light car powered by a 2 cylinder Benz engine.
The little car was driven by the Richard brothers themselves (Georges and Max) in some of the major motorsports events of the day, but without particular success.
The new plant at Ivry-Port was inaugurated in 1899. The catalogue offered a new twin cylinder model with a steel chassis, belt transmission and 4 speed gearbox, which was available as 7 hp and a 10 hp variants.
In 1901 Georges Richard joined forces with Henri Brasier, who had designed for Mors. After the arrival of the engineer, the company turned its attention to producing models with bigger engines.
Alongside the traditional 10/12 HP model with a 2 cylinder De Dion engine, a three speed gearbox, cone clutch and universal joint driveshaft, the new four cylinder, four speed 20/24 HP and 24/40 HP models were also presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1902. A year later, the vehicles produced by the company would be sold under the Richard-Brasier brand.