Changan PSA's new president to assume post in April, as JV announces plans to speed up domestic production

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai April 2) - Changan PSA's new president, Gilles Boussac, will officially assume his post this month, auto.sina.com.cn reported today. Mr. Boussac will replace Eric Apode, who has served as president of the joint venture since November 2011. The news comes not long after the unveiling of the world's first DSworld flagship store in Shanghai, at which Mr. Boussac made an appearance.

Mr. Apode will be relocated to Paris to assume his new post as head of PSA's global projects unit in its R&D department. Commenting on his departure, Mr. Apode said that he will continue to pay close attention to the JV's progress, saying that it felt like a child to him. His successor, Mr. Boussac (pictured above), has already been the focus of numerous interviews by the Chinese press. He is expected to represent the JV at the upcoming Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition.

According to Mr. Apode, the joint venture's first domestically made model, the Citroën DS5 (pictured below), will be manufactured at its production site in Shenzhen, Guangdong this September. It will be followed by domestically manufactured versions of two other models from the DS line next year. The JV also has plans to introduce new SUV and convertible models. The JV will release a total of four new models over the next two years, Mr. Apode revealed.