PSA Peugeot Citroen sales up 3.8% in 2007

PSA Peugeot Citroen sold 3,428,000 vehicles and CKD units in 2007, up 1.8% from
2006, the company announced in Paris Tuesday. This performance reflects a 3.8% increase in vehicles sales – led by an 11.1% rise in international markets and a return to growth in Europe, where unit sales rose 1.2% – offsetting a 22.5% decline in sales of CKD units.

The pace of growth accelerated in the second half, with vehicles sales increasing by 6.2% versus 1.7% in the first six months.
Sales of the Peugeot 207, which was introduced in France in April 2006, totalled 521,000 units, exceeding the target of 500,000 units for the model’s first year.

The 206 continued to increase its international expansion, helped by launches in China, Iran and Malaysia in 2006, and confirmed its sales potential with 309,000 units sold.

Combined worldwide sales of the 206 and 207 rose 7.1% to 830,000; together, the two models represented Europe‘s best selling compact.

Aggregate sales of the marque’s compact lineup – comprising the Peugeot 107, 206, 207 and 1007 – rose 4.8% in 2007 on the back of 20% growth in 2006.

For Citroen, the highlight of 2007 was the success of the C4 Picasso launched in October 2006, with more than 200,000 units sold during the year. The Xsara Picasso, with 120,000 units sold, drove a 55.1% increase in Citroen’s compact MPV sales, making the marque Europe‘s leading brand in this segment.

With combined sales of 348,000 units in 2007, the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner delivered their best performance ever since their launch ten years ago.

New products presented or launched in the 2nd half of the year, Peugeot
308 and Citroen C5 respectively, have met with a favourable reception. The C5 is due to go on sale in the first half of 2008 while the Peugeot 308 received the “Golden Steering Wheel” award in Germany and succeeded in bringing in over 83.000 orders within a few weeks of its going on sale.

PSA Peugeot Citroen confirmed its leadership of the European light commercial vehicles market, with registrations up 4.9% to 387,000 units, representing an 18.8% market share.

After the June 2006 launch of the Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay and the January 2007 introduction of the Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch – elected 2008 Vans of the Year – the new Peugeot Bipper and Citroen Nemo will go on sale at the beginning of 2008, along with the new Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner during the first half.

PSA Peugeot Citroen also confirmed its environmental leadership in 2007. The Group sold 1 mln vehicles emitting less than 140 CO2 g/km. In the less than 130 CO2 g/km segment in Europe, the Group’s market share stood at more than 26%.

In France, where the Group is the leading manufacturer, combined Peugeot and Citroen car and light commercial vehicle registrations rose by 1.9% to 779,800 units in a market up 3.5%, representing a 30.9% market share.

In Spain, the Group maintained its leadership in cars and light commercial vehicles with 19.2% of the market. Citroen was once again the country’s biggest selling marque with a 10.7% market share.

In the U.K., the Group’s car and light commercial vehicle registrations rose by 1.8% to 286,000 units and its market share held firm at 10.4% in 2007.

In Italy, PSA Peugeot Citroen’s fourth largest market in unit sales, the Group sharply increased its share to 9.9% from 9.5% in a market that expanded by 6.2%. In Germany, market share stood at 5.5%. A change in VAT rules at the beginning of the year triggered a sharp 7.9% drop in the market and Group registrations were also down, by 10.6%. Sales of vehicles outside Western Europe rose by 11.1%, led by faster expansion in the Group’s priority regions.

In Eastern Europe, where PSA Peugeot Citroen is the second largest manufacturer, sales rose 15.5% to 132,000 units, outperforming the market.

In the six main countries of Central Europe (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia), unit sales totalled 115,000 units, an increase of 13.9%, giving the Group an 11.7% share versus 11.3% in 2006.

In Russia, a new priority growth region for the Group, PSA Peugeot Citroen registrations rose by a third to 36,000 units in a fast growing market (+35%).

In a Chinese market up by a strong 24.5% and following a strong sales growth (+63%) in 2006, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA) sold 209,000 vehicles in 2007. This represented an increase of 3.1% and gave DPCA a market share of 4%.

In the Mercosur region (Brazil and Argentina), PSA Peugeot Citroen registrations rose 32.5% to 208,000 units, outperforming a very fast growing car market.

 

2008 Sales Outlook

 

In a still highly competitive marketplace, demand in Europe should remain in 2008 at 2007 levels. The Group expects to sell around 3,550,000 to 3,650,000 units sales of assembled vehicles and CKD units in 2008, representing an increase of around 5%. This growth should be stronger in the second half of the year than in the first six months, as a result of the scheduled launches of new vehicles.