PSA Group announces more growth in, income, profits and sales, and expect it to get better too.

"Our first-half results are very positive but we need to review them on a full-year basis," said Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the PSA Peugeot Citroën Managing Board. "In this unstable international environment, the company and its staff – whom I thank wholeheartedly – must all be focused on the full execution of the “Back in the Race” plan in order to secure the Group's recovery."

Consolidated net revenue represented €28,904 million in the first half of 2015, up 6.9% vs 2014. The Automotive Division reported revenue of €19,409 million, a year-on-year rise of 4.3% driven by the increase in net prices, a positive product mix and a favourable currency impact.

Consolidated Recurring Operating Income amounted to €1,424 million, versus €387 million in first-half 2014. Most of the growth came from the Automotive Division, with a €968 million improvement due to a favourable business environment contributing for nearly a third, and the combined impact of cost saving and positive product mix effects - reflecting the success of recent vehicle launches and the pricing power policy.

The Automotive Division's pro forma recurring operating income, which includes 50% of the results of Chinese joint ventures, was up €1,065 million¹ to €1,193 million.

Non-recurring operating income and expenses resulted in a net expense of €342 million in the first half of the year, primarily due to restructuring costs incurred by the Automotive Division.

Financial income and expenses represented a net expense of €336 million compared with €344 million in first-half 2014.

Net income for the period came to €720 million, up €762 million year-on-year.

Banque PSA Finance reported recurring operating income of €294 million², a rise of €122 million on first-half 2014. Further to the February 2015 agreement with Santander Consumer Finance, two joint ventures – one in France, the other in the United Kingdom – are already operational. As a result, the Group is benefiting from some of the most competitive refinancing conditions in the market.

Faurecia's recurring operating income amounted to €424 million, a year-on-year increase of 36.3%.

Free cash flow of manufacturing and sales companies amounted to €2,792 million, driven by an improvement in the cash flow from operations, seasonal changes in working capital requirement (up €932 million over the period due to high production in Europe in May-June 2015) and dividends paid from DPCA and Banque PSA Finance during the first half.

Excluding €321 million restructuring expenses and €331 million exceptional income, operating free cash flow for the period came to €2,782 million.

Total inventory at end-June 2015, including independent dealers, stood at 391,000 vehicles, 16,000 fewer than at end-June 2014.

The manufacturing and sales companies’ net financial position at 30 June 2015 was a positive €3,562 million, up €3,014 million vs 31 December 2014. Aside from free cash flow generation, the improvement was notably attributable to the exercise of stock warrants for a total of €120 million.

Market Outlook

In 2015 the Group expects automotive demand to expand by 6% in Europe and approximately 3% in China but to contract by around 15% in Latin America and 35% in Russia.

Operational Outlook

The Group aims to generate operating free cash flow of around €2 billion over the period 2015-2017. It is also targeting an operating margin³ of 2% in 2018 for the Automotive division, with the objective of reaching 5% over the period of the next medium-term plan, covering 2019-2023.

1. On first-half 2014, restated following the application of IFRS 5
2. 100% of the results of Banque PSA Finance. In the financial statements of PSA Peugeot Citroën , the two joint ventures are consolidated at equity, and the other businesses covered by the Santander agreement are declassified under ‘Net result from operationsto be continued in partnership’.
3. Recurring operating income relating to the Automotive Division’s revenue

Alonso looking forward to First Free Practice at ALbert Park, Melbourne.

With a week to go until free practice gets underway in Albert Park, Alonso is training hard to be as well prepared as possible when the Ferrari F14 T makes its race weekend debut. Fernando has tackled an all-encompassing training regime including running, cycling, karting and even football, which is a particular passion of the Maranello driver. 

However, his mental focus is already on the Melbourne track and all the unknown factors that involves. “We come to the start of this championship with the team having had twelve days of testing, while as a driver I’ve had six. A few more days would have been useful given how much has changed for this season. With every lap of testing we learned something and improved pretty much constantly. I think that will still be the case in Australia, especially on the first day and then actually in the first few races.”

There are the usual unknowns because the cars are still new, but there are also those linked to the rule changes. “The new Formula 1 rules are very different to what we were used to. I think the concept of what constitutes a Grand Prix will actually change this year, with Saturday and Sunday being very different from one another. In qualifying, one will be able to get everything out of the car, pushing the new power unit to the limit, trying to get the absolutely best result. But in the race you won’t get anywhere near that level. Last year, towards the end of the races, on new tyres, you could do very quick lap times, whereas in the closing stages this year, you will have to bear in mind how much fuel you have left, the state of the batteries and that of the tyres. You will need to be very clever to manage these parameters and the new race strategies could see drivers being unable to go flat out to the end.”

Alonso also had a thought for those watching the races at home. “As drivers, we will get used to it quickly and so I hope these rules aren’t immediately overturned and that they stay unchanged for a few years. Otherwise the spectators could lose confident in this new Formula 1 which is very complex, even for the viewer.”