Let’s start by breaking down the word oleo-pneumatic.

Oleo means "oil", and pneumatic means "containing air or gas under pressure."

Oleo-pneumatic technology was invented in the early 20th century. The first practical application is credited to the French engineer Paul Doumer, who developed the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber for military artillery in 1908. His invention allowed artillery to recoil smoothly without destabilizing its position, improving accuracy and operational efficiency.

The Vickers machine gun and other rapid-fire weapons incorporated oleo-pneumatic mechanisms later to manage the forces generated by their automatic fire. This adaptation allowed smoother operation and reduced wear and tear on the gun mechanisms, improving reliability in battlefield conditions.

In 1925, George Messier, a French engineer, had the idea to use this concept to install the first suspensions of this kind on a car. The "springless car" was an immediate success, with over 150 vehicles sold with this technology.

Later, as oleo-pneumatics became the standard for airplane landing gear, Citroën—followed by Mercedes and Rolls Royce—adopted this technology under the guidance of another French engineer called Paul Magès and used it for over 60 years with the legendary success we know.

The tech has come a long way since the early 1900s, but it's still the go-to solution when you're dealing with a heavy load and lots of oscillations in the terrain.​ And by the way, almost every commercial and governmental aircraft still uses oleo struts in their landing gears. It's a rock-solid technology that has stood the test of time.

More exclusive nowadays due to its production cost, it remains the only approach that can uncompromisingly ensure the trio of "comfort, safety, and performance.