Peugeot is pushing ahead with growth plans in Chin and Asia, the new 4008 SUV is the start of 1 Million units per year by 2018.

• A plant opened as part of the Push to Pass strategy for profitable growth, which will see 20 new launches in China and Southeast Asia by 2021
• A plant dedicated to the production of SUVs, a fast-growing segment in China
• Capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year, in line with the target of selling one million vehicles in China and Southeast Asia in 2018
• The Peugeot 4008 will be the first vehicle produced

As part of the implementation of the Push to Pass plan and to support the China & Southeast Asia region's goal of selling one million vehicles in 2018, DPCA today inaugurated its fourth assembly plant in Chengdu, China.

The ceremony was attended by Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of the PSA Group; Zhu Yanfeng, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dongfeng Motor Corporation; Denis Martin, the PSA Group's Executive Vice-President, China and ASEAN; Liu Weidong, Chief Operating Officer of Dongfeng Motor Corporation; Su Weibin, General Manager of DPCA; Jean Christophe Marchal, Executive Vice-President of DPCA and representatives of Sichuan province and the municipality of Chengdu.

The fourth DPCA plant will manufacture vehicles for the Dongfeng Peugeot, Dongfeng Citroën and Dongfeng Fengshen brands on the PSA Group's EMP2 platform, primarily in the SUV segment. Production will begin with the new Peugeot 4008 SUV, which is scheduled for launch in November 2016. Following a gain of 53% in 2015, the SUV segment continued to expand rapidly in first-half 2016, with 44% growth. It currently accounts for 38.8% of the Chinese market. As a whole, the Chinese auto market offers great potential. Car ownership stands at 75 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, and the country recently overtook the United States to become home to the world's largest middle class, which represented 110 million people at end-2015. This figure is forecast to double to 220 million by 2022.

Leveraging the best practices of PSA and Dongfeng Motor (DFM), DPCA built the plant in two years according to the highest industry standards. The world-class facility uses a flexible manufacturing system that enables close cooperation with suppliers, while adhering to the most stringent environmental principles.

In addition to the CAPSA plant in Shenzen, which manufactures DS models, DPCA's production base now comprises four assembly plants: three in Wuhan, in Hubei province, and one in Chengdu, in Sichuan province. With this new facility and DPCA's latest 5A+ medium-term plan unveiled on 11 May, the PSA Group and DFM have demonstrated their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership in order to satisfy the needs of the Chinese market. The two partners are pursuing three clear-cut objectives for improving the joint venture's financial performance:

• Significantly increasing customer satisfaction with products and services to become one of the top three in the industry by 2018 and No. 1 by 2020
• Generating revenue in excess of RMB 100 billion by 2020
• Achieving profitable, sustainable growth underpinned by productivity gains of 30% by 2020

During the ceremony, Carlos Tavares said: "This new plant will help us to expand our vehicle range in the fast-growing SUV segment and meet the needs of our Chinese customers. It represents an important step in implementing our Push to Pass plan and achieving our objective to launch 20 new models in China by 2021 and sell over one million vehicles in the region by 2018."

Chinese built Volvo S60 sedans are now going to be exported to the United States of America.

Volvo Car Corp. started exporting S60 sedans built in China to the United States last week as part of its plan to expand sales and market share globally. The vehicles, which are produced at Volvo's plant in the southwest China city of Chengdu, will be transported to Shanghai for shipment to the U.S.

The S60 will arrive at dealership showrooms in the United States in about two months, Volvo said. The company did not indicate how many vehicles it intends to export.

Volvo says the exports will help boost annual worldwide sales to 800,000 vehicles. The company hopes to boost deliveries in China to 200,000 units "in the medium term."

Volvo has two plants in China. Aside from the S60, the Chengdu plant also builds the XC60 crossover. Its plant in the northeast China city of Daqing assembles the XC Classic, the previous generation of Volvo's XC90 SUV.

Volvo, which is owned by private Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., delivered 24,043 vehicles in China in the first four months. That is virtually unchanged from the same period last year.

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PSA and Dongfeng sign agreement to build fourth chinese plant.

• A fourth production plant based in Chengdu, Sichuan Province
• Capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year eventually
• Dedicated to the production of SUVs and MPVs
• Production start-up in 2016

To support the strong growth in its unit sales, DPCA signed on 2^nd July an agreement with the city of Chengdu for the construction of its fourth production facility in China.Work will get underway in the second half of the year, with the first car scheduled to roll off the new assembly lines in late 2016.

With total capacity eventually reaching 300,000 vehicles a year, DPCA’s fourth plant will build Dongfeng Citroën and Dongfeng Peugeot and Fengshen- badged SUVs and MPVs.

DPCA’s current production base comprises three plants in Wuhan,which are running on two shifts for a total potential capacity of 750,000 units a year. With the fourth plant, production capacity will be lifted to one million units a year in 2016.

The company’s full-year objective for 2014 is to sell more than 650,000 vehicles in China.

Last 28 March, Dongfeng and PSA Peugeot Citroën signed a global strategic partnership with the objective of selling 1.5 million vehicles by 2020.

Volvo sees China as the place to be, with increased sales and new plants.

Volvo Cars forecasts record sales of at least 80,000 cars in China in 2014

China is poised to replace the US as Volvo Car Group’s (Volvo Cars) largest market in 2014 with sales of at least 80,000 cars, up from 61,146 in 2013, highlighting the company’s growing presence in the world’s fastest growing automobile market. Sales in the US in 2014 are expected to increase in line with the broader market.

The emergence of China as Volvo Cars’ leading market represents an important step towards the company’s long term goal of selling 800,000 cars a year and promises to break a 20 year cycle during which it has consistently sold around 400,000 cars a year.

“Growing demand for first-class safety and environmental performance makes Volvo an ever more attractive brand in the Chinese marketplace,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO. “As a company at the forefront of technological and environmental developments, Volvo Cars is well placed to enhance its reputation as a premium brand and further strengthen its position in China.”

The premium segment of the car market in China is forecast to grow by 20 per cent this year. Volvo Cars expects to outpace this growth, indicating it is gaining market share from its competitors. Volvo Cars’ confidence is borne out by first quarter sales figures for the China market, which reveal sales rose 25.4 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2013, to 17,286 cars.

During the first quarter, the Volvo XC60 SUV was the best-selling model, followed by the S60L long wheelbase sedan and V40 hatchback. The sales start of the V40 Cross Country as well as an ongoing expansion of the dealer network will further support Volvo Cars’ continued growth in China.

The Volvo S60L Petrol Plug-in Hybrid

At the Beijing Motor Show, Volvo Cars also officially debuts the Volvo S60L Petrol Plug-in Hybrid (PPHEV), underlining its commitment to bringing electrification technology to China. The ingenious petrol plug-in hybrid – an electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car all rolled into one – offers the driver an outstanding combination of dynamic driving pleasure and superb fuel economy.

The S60L PPHEV features the same electrification technology as the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, which has been a groundbreaking success in Europe.

“Creating a powertrain that offers 306 horsepower by blending a 238 horsepower petrol turbo from our new four-cylinder Drive-E engine family with a 68 horsepower electric motor, proves that the most efficient car can also be the most fun to drive. This is our most technologically advanced powertrain ever. It brings us closer to our vision to offer zero emission motoring in the future,” said Håkan Samuelsson.

The S60L Petrol Plug-in Hybrid, with an exceptionally CO2-efficient 238 horsepower Drive-E petrol turbo paired with plug-in hybrid technology, will be launched in China early 2015. The car will be built in the Chengdu plant, which already now produces the petrol-powered Volvo S60L.

Daqing production

Volvo Cars can now also confirm that the first car to be assembled in the Daqing plant in northeastern China will be the Volvo XC Classic, a locally-built variant of the current Volvo XC90, production of which in the Torslanda plant in Sweden will cease this summer. The XC Classic will be sold solely in the Chinese market after its launch later this year. Other models to be built in the Daqing plant will be confirmed at a later stage.

McLaren enters China to boost increasing sales further

• McLaren Automotive begins selling its range of innovative, high performance supercars – the 12C, 12C Spider and McLaren P1™, in China
• The company has appointed retailers in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou
• McLaren has held the first in a series of events celebrating the brand’s official entry into China
• McLaren Automotive has officially commenced trading in China from this week. 

The entry of McLaren Automotive into the major Chinese market has begun with the establishment of four new McLaren retailers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, highlighting the continued progress of this exciting global car company.

China is the world’s number one automotive market and access to its growing base of consumers will provide a major opportunity for McLaren.  In time, it is anticipated that the Asia Pacific region will account for one third of global sales for McLaren, with China contributing a growing number of orders.

McLaren Automotive is a new and highly ambitious car company, and entry into China is the latest in a list of exciting and bold milestones it has reached.  In only its third year of trading, McLaren Automotive has already established a strong retail network in the majority of the world’s mature markets, with the four new retailers in China making 45 locations globally.

The company set itself an ambitious target from the outset, to launch a new model or derivative every year from launch and, despite challenging economic conditions, has kept this promise and is firmly on track with future plans for a full product range. Despite the global economic downturn, McLaren continues to meet its sales targets, selling over 1,400 cars in 2012; 80% of which were exported from the UK.

The groundbreaking 12C and 12C Spider models set new standards of innovation and capability in the high performance sportscar market, and the company recently celebrated the manufacture of the 3,000th 12C at the purpose-built McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England.

The McLaren P1™ is the latest model to be launched by the British brand, and sets new benchmarks for innovation and performance. Following an extensive development programme, it has now entered production, with the allocation for the Asia Pacific region already filled.

Ron Dennis, Chairman of McLaren Group and McLaren Automotive said: “Today, I am very proud to be able to represent McLaren as we mark the formation of McLaren China.  In recent decades, McLaren has grown to become a world class, highly innovative technology company that is never afraid to challenge convention. This approach has been applied to all our road cars, which utilise cutting edge technologies to deliver inspirational performance, coupled with high levels of efficiency. China is one of the most exciting and dynamic markets in the world where we will make every effort to be well received.  Our entry into China is an important day for McLaren and represents a significant milestone in the development of the company.”

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive added: “Entering the Chinese market is both a huge honour and a major opportunity for McLaren Automotive, and it highlights the continued development of the company. When McLaren Automotive was established it was set some very challenging objectives. By bringing three groundbreaking cars to market, developing a truly world-class manufacturing facility, and establishing a global retailer network, we have more than met those challenges and laid solid foundations for what, I believe, will be a very bright future.”

McLaren hosted a high profile launch event, ‘McLaren Uncovered’ in Shanghai today, which was attended by the company’s senior global management. The four retail locations will now open across China throughout the next month – Shanghai (12 September), Beijing (20 September), Chengdu (24 September), and Guangzhou (27 September).

China agrees to Volvo's request to manufacture in Daqing, Zhangjiakou and Chengdu

Chinese government authorities have approved Volvo Car Group's (Volvo Cars) establishment of manufacturing plants in Daqing and Zhangjiakou. As a result, Volvo Cars' full Chinese industrial footprint, including Chengdu, has been approved.

The assembly plant in Daqing is under construction and the first pre-series cars will be built late 2013 for training purposes. The plant is forecast to be fully operational in 2014.

The engine plant in Zhangjiakou will become operational during the autumn of this year and will deliver engines to Volvo Cars' manufacturing plant in Chengdu, where serial production will start in the fourth quarter of 2013. Zhangjiakou will also supply the assembly plant in Daqing.

The plants in Daqing and Zhangjiakou will be operated in the form of two joint venture companies, in which Volvo Cars initially will hold 30 per cent. The remaining part will be held by companies within Geely Holding Group.

The Chengdu plant will be operated under an extension of an already existing production license held by a Geely Holding company. The manufacturing license for Chengdu was granted in June.

The plants in China will be operated in full accordance with Volvo Cars manufacturing standards and procedures, equal to those of the company's European plants.