China-made Citroen 5 to go on sale in early 2009

Shanghai, November 12 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA) has recently completed construction of its second plant and has launched its Platform 3 for making high-end models. The first model to be built on this platform is the Citroen 5, which is expected to go on sale early next year, said xinhuanet.com today.

The production line of DPCA's second plant has had an excellent trial run. The new facility will produce high-end models of the Peugeot and Citroen brands on Platform 3, including the Peugeot 206 and 307 and Citroen 5. The Citroen 5, which DPCA has introduced for local production for the Chinese market, will be the first model to come off the new plant's production line and is likely to go on sale in the spring of 2009.

The first Peugeot model to be produced by Platform 3 in the joint venture's second facility may be the larger and high-end Peugeot 407. The new Peugeot model will go on sale in China next year as well. Imported Peugeot 407 and Peugeot 607 models have been sold in the Chinese market for many years.

Currently, Citroen models Fukang, Elysee, C2, Picasso, C-Triomphe, Xsara and Peugeot models 206 and 307 are built at Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Auto in central China's city of Wuhan, but around 70% of its overall sales come from low priced Fukang, Elysee and C2 models, which has urged the joint venture to introduce the high-end Citron 5 model to boost Citroen's brand image and profitability.

The DPCA, a 50:50 joint venture between China's Dongfeng Motor and the French auto giant PSA Group, has plans to introduce new car models for local production. PSA expects to sell 150,000 cars in China this year, a 30% increase over 2007's 115,000 vehicles.