The Origin of the Name “Limousine”

Limousines were named after a traditional French garment worn by shepherds—it’s true.

The term limousine is derived from the name of a geographical region located in the heart of France: Limousin. Locals in the area have been wearing distinctive hooded cloaks for centuries. These cloaks offer protection from the elements on those chilly nights in the soggy French countryside.

When auto makers created the limousine to cart around VIPs in luxury, only the passenger compartment was enclosed (the poor drivers were left out in the rain.) Somebody noted that the enclosed portion of the cars resembled the hood on the traditional Limousin cloak.

Thus the term Limousine was born!