Citroen, Besturn models sold out, in short supply

Shanghai, December 29 (Gasgoo.com) After a few automakers in China reduced or suspended the production of some vehicle models in recent months amid the market slump, these models are now in short supply and their production will have to be resumed meet the demand, said xinhuanet.com today. The Dongfeng Citroen and FAW Besturn are parts of the not-easily-available models for the moment.

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Auto (DPCA) scaled down its sales target in June and September, and began to halt and overhaul the Citroen production line. Currently, over half of Dongfeng Citroen’s dealerships can finish their sales tasks, but meanwhile some models made by the joint venture are in short supply. The dealers have no more delivery of the C-Elysee, whose price discount has decreased from 8,000 yuan ($1,170) to 5,000 yuan. Many editions of the C-Quatre model are also nearly sold out.

FAW VW has started a two-week overhaul of its equipment and as a result the supply of its Besturn model is affected. A Beijing dealer said that FAW VW 4S stores and depots in the capital city have few Besturn cars (especially the red one) in stock now as the automaker has halted its production and supply. However, the New Bora, Magotan and other models of FAW VW are easily available in the market.

A PR executive of FAW VW said that the joint venture had arranged much earlier this year for the production line overhaul with workers on rotating days-off from December 18 to January 3. The production is suspended or stopped not because of the sales slump as reported by the media that said the financial crisis would cause sweeping cuts in auto production and workforce.

Now that the market demands are still growing for the models whose production has been suspended or halted, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Auto, FAW VW and other automakers have decided to speed up the overhaul of the idled production lines and resume their operation for more output to meet the market demands.