Editing Matra (section)

==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]].

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.<ref name = "grandprix"/> Instead, Matra decided to concentrate its resources on its remaining interests within the media and aerospace sectors.<ref name = "grandprix"/>