Peugeot to build a new plant in Kenya to produce the 508 and 3008 with a minimum build of 1000 per year

The PSA Group and URYSIA today signed a contract to assemble Peugeot brand vehicles in Kenya. This assembly project will begin in June 2017 with an annual volume of over 1,000 units in order to meet the expectations of the Kenyan market.

The signature ceremony took place at the Kenyan State House, the President's residence in Nairobi, in the presence of the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, the French Minister for the Economy and Finance, Michel Sapin, Claude Mwende, CEO of URYSIA, and Jean-Christophe Quémard, Executive Vice-President for Middle East & Africa for the PSA Group.

URYSIA is the importer and distributor for the Peugeot brand in Kenya since 2010.

Production will start with the Peugeot 508, followed by the new Peugeot 3008 SUV.

This agreement is part of the strategic profitable growth plan, "Push to Pass" and materialises the PSA Group’s ambition to develop internationally.

On this occasion, Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya, said: "Peugeot cars have always been renowned for resilience, durability and reliability. We are proud to welcome them back home”, in reference to the assembly of Peugeot cars from 1974 to 2002.

Jean-Christophe Quémard added: "This investment in Kenya is part of the long term strategy of the PSA Group to increase its sales in Africa and the Middle East, with the aim to sell a million vehicles in 2025. These local production capacities will serve the region's markets and meet the expectations of our customers and the specific features of each country."

Peugeot, Judy Murray & the Lawn Tennis Association collaborate further to bring Tennis to more Scottish regions.

• PEUGEOT provides new 508 to grow Judy Murray’s Tennis on the Road programme
• Tennis on the Road, supported by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) established to increase involvement in tennis across the UK
• New PEUGEOT will travel with Judy across Scotland to help promote the sport

PEUGEOT UK has served up an ace for Judy Murray’s Tennis on the Road scheme as it delivered a new 508 car to help the initiative reach the far corners of Scotland in the coming months.

The 508 will be a dependable steed for Judy as she travels across the country, bringing tennis to communities with little or no access to the sport.

Tennis on the Road, supported by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) shows parents, teachers, coaches, students, volunteers and sports development teams how to deliver fun and engaging starter sessions to children and young teenagers.

 

Through partnership with PEUGEOT, Tennis on the Road now has increased activation opportunities thanks to even better transportation increasing the amount of equipment that can be carried.

The new car is destined to visit another seven outreach locations across Scotland before the end of 2016, adding to a growing list of 40 schools which have benefitted from the scheme.

Judy Murray commented: “Tennis on the Road is about inspiring and supporting parents, teachers, volunteers and coaches to increase participation and grow tennis in their local areas using whatever space they have. You don’t need a tennis court to get kids started!

“Being able to attend the sessions at the various schools and tennis clubs is really important to me and having the PEUGEOT 508 will get me, and all my equipment, to as many of these as possible.”

Andrew Didlick Director of Communications, Events & Brand Partnerships said: “Tennis is an important part of the PEUGEOT brand; our brand ambassadors are Novak Djokovic and Jamie Murray, and we also support the LTA and ATP by providing Official Cars.

“Now, the addition of a PEUGEOT 508 to the Tennis on the Road team will help take the sport and the opportunities it brings to even more communities across Scotland, inspiring a new generation of potential ambassadors.”  

The stylish 508 features a spacious boot and is well-equipped with in-car technology, meaning that Judy will be able to to transport all necessary equipment and  remain connected with the Tennis on the Road team when travelling to remote parts of the country. The 508 joins a stablemate from PEUGEOT’s range of Commercial Vehicles as the brand also supplied a Boxer van to Tennis on the Road earlier this year.

To learn more about Tennis on the Road or if you are interested in getting the FREE roadshow to your local community, please go to www.tennisontheroad.com.

• PEUGEOT leads the big manufacturers with the lowest CO₂ range
• World premieres and Concept Cars make the PEUGEOT stand in Hall 8 the one to visit
• Sees the debut of the 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT and FRACTAL electric urban coupé design

After putting itself firmly back on track at the last motor show in Geneva, PEUGEOT has really put its foot down over the first half of 2015 and will be appearing at Frankfurt on top form: with 886,000 units sold by the end of June 2015, the car maker has seen a 3.9% increase in worldwide sales, with strong growth in Europe (up 6.7%), Asia (up 9.6%), Africa and the Middle East (10.9%) and India/Pacific (50.2%), while continuing to move its range up-market.

Launching its assault on all fronts, PEUGEOT benefits from:

• the appeal of a very young product range, with an average age of 2.6 years;
• the global success of the 308 - the Brand’s best-seller, No.1 in France and the European top 3 in the C segment;
• the global car - the 2008 is now produced on 3 continents and is No.2 in Europe in the B-SUV segment;
• the technological deployment of the new Euro 6 engines, with 25 best-in-class CO₂ versions and the latest EAT6 (Electronic Automatic Transmission) gearboxes.

Environmental footprint: PEUGEOT is the benchmark

PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN has set itself the target of an average CO₂ of 95g/km within the EU-28, to be reached by 2020.  In the first five months of 2015, it was the first car maker with CO₂ to go below 110g/km with 106.9g/km achieved, while the manufacturers’ (all marques) average stands at 121.4g CO₂/km.

Now, with average emissions of 106.3g CO₂/km, PEUGEOT is in the lead, ahead of the big brands in the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Emissions) ratings. This remarkable achievement was attained while increasing the sales of SUVs and the petrol energy mix. Since 2012, PEUGEOT has reduced its CO₂emissions by 12.6% and by a further 3% over the first half of 2015. This performance is mainly explained by the efficiency of the new diesel BlueHDi and petrol PureTech engine ranges and the latest EAT6 six-speed automatic gearbox.

With 25 Best-in-Class vehicles in six different ranges, PEUGEOT has confirmed its position as the benchmark for its environmental footprint and running efficiency.This applies to the full range, from compact to the larger vehicles. A few examples:

• in the B segment, the 208 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 emits CO₂ of just 79g/km and recently beat the world fuel consumption record with just 2L/100km
• in the C segment, the 308 boasts 10 Best-in-Class versions, including the 1.2-litre PureTech 110 which emits CO₂ of just 95g/km; it also holds an International Engine of the Year title, awarded in June for the PureTech 3-cylinder turbo in the 1.0-1.4-litre category;
• in the D segment the 508 1.6-litre BlueHDi 120 is fitted with the EAT6 six-speed automatic gearbox and emits just 99g/km of CO₂.

CO₂: list of PEUGEOT Best-in-Class models

PEUGEOT 3-cylinder turbo PureTech: International Engine of the Year 2015 (1.0 to 1.4-litre) 

308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT

Two years after its launch, the PEUGEOT 308 has become the Brand’s worldwide best-seller. In the highly competitive European C segment, 308 is now in the top three (3^rd best-selling vehicle in Europe, in the hatchback and estate category). The vehicle, named Car of the Year in 2014, continues to enjoy great success. Already the No.1 hatchback in France, the arrival of the SW version has made it leader in its segment in France, Italy, Belux, Poland and the Netherlands. After the launch of the GT and GT Line versions at the start of the year, 308 is continuing its performance pace with the arrival of the accomplished 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT.

This version takes the 308 range into a whole new dimension, taking it to new heights which follows the achievements made with the RCZ R and 208 GTi (first as the 30^th and now) by PEUGEOT SPORT. The 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT is the result of the considerable expertise from the successful competition departments’ technicians, engineers and drivers located at Vélizy, France.

Performance is guaranteed: with its 1.6-litre THP 270hp turbocharged petrol engine, 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT gets from 0 to 62mph in just 6 seconds and covers 1,000 metres from a standing start in 25.3 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. Due to its extraordinarily flexible engine with 169hp/litre and its weight limited to 1205kg, the 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT emits CO₂ of just 139g/km, making it the benchmark in its category. Symbolising all the firm’s expertise, it is lowered by 11mm and offers extraordinary road handling with its Torsen® differential, Michelin Super Sport tyres on 19” alloy wheels and is equipped to stop even quicker with 300mm front disc brakes. It is available in six colour choices plus a Coupe Franche (the distinctive clean-cut two colour way) version contrasting the Pearl Nera Black with the new Ultimate Red paint colour.

PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid: supercar performance from an award-winning car

With its tracks widened by 80mm and its muscular stance, PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid certainly stands out from the crowd. And the figures are very impressive: with plug-in hybrid technology that develops 500hp, including 270hp from the 1.6-litre THP petrol engine and two electric motors with 115hp each, mounted one on each axle, it boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 3.1kg/hp and has maximum torque of 730Nm. This formidable vehicle can achieve 0 to 62mph in just 4 seconds and just 22 seconds to cover 1,000 metres from a standing start.

Utilising the virtues of the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform) that the PEUGEOT 308 was built on, now with four-wheel drive, inside it has four individual sport seats and emits just 70g/km of CO₂. The driver can choose between four driving modes, with different power levels to suit the road: Hot Lap (500hp), Track (400hp), Road (300hp) and ZEV (0 emissions).

Spectacular, sensational, extraordinary... any number of superlatives can be used to describe this formidable performance car.

PEUGEOT FRACTAL concept: the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® with sound

With over 1.8 million customers won over since 2012 and the launch of 208, the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® has become the distinctive sign of the Brand’s recent creations. In 2015, PEUGEOT is unveiling a new prospective study with an innovative concept known as PEUGEOT FRACTAL. The futuristic lines of this electric urban coupé reveals a new interpretation of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, where the focus is on sound to offer an even more instinctive drive experience.

Vision, touch and now hearing are called on to immerse the driver and passengers in a unique sensory experience due to a ‘9.1.2’ acoustic system combining a 9.1 hi-fi set-up with infra-bass speakers built into the back of each seat enabling the driver to feel the sound.

Brazilian sound designer Amon Tobin worked with PEUGEOT’s style specialists to create an interior sound identity for the concept car as well as its exterior signature, which varies depending on whether the vehicle is accelerating, decelerating or driving at constant speed. It is designed to alert pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring the car is perfectly at home in an urban environment.

PEUGEOT FRACTAL also rolls out innovative technology in the cockpit. The heads-up system comes with a digital tablet with HD holographic display, while the compact steering wheel has built-in touch pads and a double touch-sensitive interface to control the functions and acoustic ambiance. In fact, 80% of the interior parts are 3D-printed, including the anechoic surfaces that guide the sound, just like in a concert hall. Finally, the doors can be opened remotely using a connected Samsung Gear S watch.

Driven by a fully electric powertrain, this urban electric coupé develops 204hp and has a driving range of 280 miles due to its aerodynamic design, its low weight (1,000kg) and Tall&Narrow tyres. It is certainly swift, reaching 62mph in 6.8 seconds and covering 1,000 metres in 28.8 seconds, yet it is perfectly at home in the city with its compact stance (at just 3.81metres long) with a variable ground clearance of between 7cm to 11cm.

PEUGEOT at Frankfurt: the Brand’s stand you can’t miss

Covering some 2,900m², an emotive experience awaits visitors in Hall 8, with the world exclusive unveiling of four concepts and demonstrations with 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT (world première), the PEUGEOT FRACTAL (world première) and PEUGEOT QUARTZ concept cars in the new Coupe Franche livery, and the spectacular 308 R HYbrid demonstration vehicle.

PEUGEOT is showing its sporting and technological expertise in two themed areas. The Sport zone will be hosting the 308 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT, 208 GTi by PEUGEOT SPORT and RCZ R, new 308 Racing Cup and PEUGEOT Vision Gran Turismo simulator. The Technologies zone is displaying PureTech and BlueHDi efficient engine ranges, the EAT6 gearbox and the 308 R HYbrid.

The stand is dressed in a distinctive copper-coloured Coupe Franche livery, and PEUGEOT will be offering a unique immersive experience in the FRACTAL zone - mixing sound created by Amon Tobin, with light and video. Visitors to the stand will also be able to relax and feel free to charge up their mobile phones in a lounge area. Here, there will be coffee, chilled water and the chance to discover the work of a PEUGEOT Designer in an out-of-studio ambiance created in partnership with Scentys.

PEUGEOT Music: ever-lasting musical emotion

Since 2014, the peugeotmusic.com platform has been showing off new talents from the fields of soul, rock, pop, electro and alternative. With its webradio, users can enjoy a free selection of music, free from ads, and download the PEUGEOT Music application from the Apple Store, Google Store and Blackberry Store.

In September 2015, Brazilian artist and DJ Amon Tobin will be joining PEUGEOT Music, after his work with the car designer teams on the PEUGEOT FRACTAL electric concept, for which he created a special interior and exterior sound signature. He will also be bringing “Slipstreaming”, a piece of music created to express the unique driving experience on offer in the concept car, and will be one of the leading artists featured on the music platform.

Peugeot celebrates rising up the charts in the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 Survey Results.

• Auto Express Driver Power sees PEUGEOT Dealers climb to fifth overall for aftersales
• Dealers take significant step forward in how they conduct sales
• PEUGEOT ranks highly for customer loyalty

PEUGEOT owners have given the brand a resounding thumbs up in the latest Auto Express Driver Power survey. The newly published report, which gives owners the opportunity to rate their experience at Dealerships, saw PEUGEOT continue to race up the rankings. 

For aftersales, the French firm finished fifth overall, a four-place improvement on 2014. In sales terms too, owners believe PEUGEOT Dealers have made a significant step forwards, up from 14^th last year to eighth!

This year the Auto Express Driver Power survey collated the experiences of 60,988 UK car owners. Respondents are owners of new and used cars with 56 per cent owning cars that are less than three years old. 

In the all-important after-sales section, PEUGEOT continued an upwards trajectory that saw its customers rate it the most improved brand in the industry in last year’s Driver Power. For 2015, PEUGEOT Dealers were the best European-owned brand and the first European mass market car maker among the 32 manufacturers ranked.

In the six aftersales areas, respondents are asked to rate helpfulness and attitude, standard of workmanship, cleanliness and atmosphere, technical knowledge, keeping owners informed and value for money. 

PEUGEOT Dealers comfortably eclipsed all their 2014 scores. In position terms, compared to other manufacturers, PEUGEOT Dealers finished ahead of their 2014 place in five of the six categories.

For vehicle sales, PEUGEOT Dealerships finished eighth out of the 32 car companies rated, up six places compared to 2014. Dealers eclipsed their 2014 scores in all eight categories. They also finished higher compared to rival manufacturers in all classes than they did in 2014.

PEUGEOT owners aren't just happy with their Dealerships; they're pleased with their cars and the ownership experience too. The company’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), a ranking used to gauge the loyalty of customers to brands, is more than 70 per cent when the average of all models is taken. 

The rating is particularly high (more than 70 per cent) on the 108, 2008, current 308 and RCZ. Any NPS ranking higher than 50 is viewed as ‘excellent’.

When PEUGEOT drivers were asked what they would improve on their car, the most popular response was… nothing! More than a quarter of owners said their car couldn't be bettered, by far the single most popular response among PEUGEOT owners. 

The survey also revealed that 85 per cent of PEUGEOT owners wouldn't rule out buying another car from the French maker.

As a manufacturer, PEUGEOT finished in 10^th position overall out of 32 in Auto Express Driver Power, up four places compared to 2014. 

Their cars’ reliability was the quality the majority of owners most liked about their PEUGEOT and the company finished the survey ninth overall in reliability terms, ahead of brands that are considered by some to be famed for their dependability.

PSA group sees growth on all three brands with new metal and tech to continue the growth.

• Worldwide sales up 0.4% to 1,547,000 units^[1]
• Sales advance in Europe, China, India-Pacific and Middle East & Africa – now the Group's third largest growth market
• Assertive brand positioning:
  • Worldwide success for the Peugeot 308, the brand's bestselling model
  • Citroën C4 Cactus gets seal of approval with 90,000 units sold since its launch a year ago and 35 awards across the world
  • Premium brand DS continues its development with the launch of the new DS 5
• The Group consolidates its position as European leader in CO₂ emission reduction with average CO₂emissions of 106.9g/km in the first five months of 2015, thanks in particular to the popularity and performance of its three-cylinder petrol range

Consolidated sales in Europe rose 2.9% year on year to 984,000

Peugeot sales were up 6.7% as a result of the excellent performance delivered by the Peugeot 308, the third bestselling model in the C segment (sedans and estates) in Europe and the segment leader in France. In the B-SUV segment, the Peugeot 2008 held onto its no. 2 ranking in Europe with 57% of sales generated on the two highest trim levels.

Citroën registrations climbed 2.8% in the first half, reflecting the brand repositioning which began a year ago, its well-rounded sales policy and the success of its latest passenger car models. The Citroën C4 Cactus generated sales of more than 43,000 units over the period and was well received by international critics, garnering awards such as "World Car Design of the Year" in New York in April. Sales of the new Citroën C1 came in at 32,000 units, a staggering 54% higher than the previous version.

DS sales jumped 14.8% between the first and second quarters to reach 40,700 units, driven by the launch of the new DS 5. The brand pursued its long-term premium positioning strategy during the period, launching "1955" limited edition models across the range to mark the 60th anniversary of the very first DS.

First-half 2015 also saw the opening of several new DS Stores, most recently in Paris, Geneva, Luxembourg and Milan, taking the DS network's total to 9 DS STORE and 65 DS SALON.

In China and Southeast Asia, PSA Peugeot Citroën sales totalled 368,000 vehicles, a 2.2% improvement on first-half 2014.

For the second year running, Peugeot was one of the fastest growing international brands on the market with sales up 11.1% year on year in China: SUV 2008 and 3008 sales surged 34%; the new 408 sedan got off to an excellent start, selling 68% more units than the old model; while the launch of the 308 S in April also contributed positively.

In China, Citroën sales retreated 6.7% compared with first-half 2014, mainly as a result of the discontinuation of low-margin models, including the old C-Elysée, and a lull in the market for notchback sedans, which accounted for all of the brand's sales until the successful launch of the C3-XR SUV in December 2014 (nearly 30,000 units sold). The Citroën C-Elysée remains the brand's bestseller with more than 46,000 units sold over the period. 

DS sales rose 4% in China in the first half of 2015 thanks in particular to the success of the DS 6. The brand also continued to develop its distribution network and now has 84 DS Stores covering 60 major cities. China currently represents 20% of the brand's worldwide sales.

Middle East & Africa: a profitable international lever of the Back in the Race plan

In the first half of the year, the Group consolidated the strong positions it holds in a number of countries in its historical Middle East & Africa markets: leading the market in Tunisia and ranking second in Morocco and third in Algeria.

Peugeot sold 61,700 units in the first half, advancing 11% compared with the same period in 2014. The brand's performance was buoyed by the recovery in the Turkish market, where it gained 0.6 market share points. In Algeria, Peugeot also improved its market share, from 10.8% to 13%, and consolidated its position as the country's no.3 player.

Citroën sales shot up by 53% to 38,300 units on the back of market share gains in two of the region's major markets, Turkey and Algeria (1 point and 0.5 points respectively), thanks in particular to strong demand for the Citroën C-Elysée, the brand's bestselling model in both countries.

Markets remained slow in Latin America and Eurasia where Peugeot and Citroën focused on improving their margins by placing an emphasis on their most profitable vehicles and those manufactured locally. In Mexico, Peugeot sales jumped 19.6% owing to the success of the Peugeot 301 and the Peugeot Partner as well as the recent launch of the new Peugeot 308.

In the India-Pacific region, Peugeot sales rose sharply, particularly in South Korea (up 132%), driven by sales of the Peugeot 2008. Citroën also enjoyed robust growth, particularly in Japan, with deliveries up 67% thanks to the strong performance of the Grand C4 Picasso.

Commenting on the sales results for the first half of 2015:

Maxime Picat, Chief Executive Officer, Peugeot brand said: "With worldwide sales up 3.9%, led by the resounding success of the 308 and our best-in-class technology, the Peugeot brand has confirmed its pulling power and sent a message of confidence about the future."

Linda Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Citroën brand said: "Boosted by the success of its recent launches, Citroën continued to make headway in the first half of the year with higher volumes in Europe. In China, the Citroën C3-XR SUV made an excellent market debut following its launch at the end of December. We are pursuing the worldwide repositioning we began just one year ago, as demonstrated by the Citroën Aircross concept unveiled in April. The concept reflects our ability to flout convention in all segments."

Yves Bonnefont, Chief Executive Officer, DS brand said: "We are continuing to roll out the DS brand globally, with the new DS 5, new engines for the DS 4 and DS 3, and new connected services for the entire range. These new products and services strengthen our offering and reaffirm our brand's positioning at the crossroads of technology and refinement. We also opened several DS Stores during the first half of the year in such major cities as Geneva, Milan and Paris."