Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company Ltd., the French car
maker's Chinese venture with Dongfeng Motor Corporation, said it
will produce and sell over 30 percent more vehicles this year as it
rolls out new models and expands in the fast growing market.
Both production and sales are expected to reach a record 280,000
vehicles, including 150,000 Citroen cars and 130,000 Peugeot cars,
company general manager Liu Weidong said.
The 2008 figures would represent an increase of 31.5 percent in
production and an increase of 35.1 percent in sales year on
year.
The company, based in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, was the
10th largest sedan producer last year, with sales of 207,300 units,
according to data from the China Association of Automobile
Manufacturers.
The company would launch five new models this year, said Liu,
adding that its costs would be reduced by more than one billion
yuan (138.9 million U.S. dollars).
Its production capacity would rise to 450,000 vehicles a year
after construction of a new Wuhan plant, with annual capacity of
150,000 vehicles, is completed in 2009.
French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen is expected to produce some
high-end models in the new plant, including the new Citroen C5
model and possibly the C6 and Peugeot 607.
Dongfeng Motor, China's third largest automotive group after
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and FAW, also runs joint
ventures with Japan's Nissan and Honda.
(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2008)
