M. Hertel was a renowned cycling champion who rode under the name of Baron Impetus. He presented a motorcycle at the 1901 show. Based at 29 Boulevard Victor, Paris, bicycles were marketed under the name Impetuosa.
Autopasion18.com writes that Max Hertel was an American who had manufactured automobiles in Massachusetts before he moved to France where he built Impetus voiturettes equipped with De Dion-Bouton engines. Production ceased in 1903.
The pornichet-patrimoine.com site states that around 1895, Henri Hertel, a Parisian, began manufacturing automobiles. He opened his first factory in Levallois-Perret and named it Impetus. Equipped with a de Dion-Bouton engine they were presented at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris. Hertel decided to establish a second factory in Pornichet. Along with automobiles, Henri Hertel built motorcycles and bicycles called Cycles Impetus in his factories.
Sources: Bourdache p437, Autopasion18.com, pornichet-patrimoine.com, et al.
