PSA Group relies on SUVs for increased sales in Europe

12 July 2018

PSA Group has revealed its half-year sales momentum driven by its new SUV offensive across all its brands.

The company has launched 13 models under its Peugeot, Citroen, DS Automobiles and Opel and Vauxhall brands, with SUVs accounting for 28% of the Group’s total sales of 609,300 units between January and June 2018. This has helped the company achieve the number two spot in this segment in Europe, with a market share of 16.9%.

Peugeot is the leading brand in the SUV segment in Europe, selling more than 339,200 SUVs worldwide (up 26%) in the first half of 2018. Since the beginning of the year, Peugeot confirms the upward trend of the PEUGEOT 3008 SUV, with 144,000 units sold (up 37%); it has also enjoyed strong demand for the new PEUGEOT 5008, which has logged 58,900 unit sales.

The Citroen SUV offensive launched last autumn is being driven by the C3 Aircross in Europe and the C5 Aircross in China, which together represented nearly 80,000 units sold in the first half of 2018, for a total of 135,000 since their launch. The launch of the C4 Aircross in China and the C5 Aircross in Europe in the second half will allow Citroen to accelerate its offensive.

Launched worldwide in February 2018, the DS 7 CROSSBACK, first DS of the second generation is key to growth at DS Automobiles, which came up to 35% in the second quarter. Two out of three customers choose the top-of-the-line versions, and while the DS 7 CROSSBACK offers premium equipment from the entry level, every second customer chooses the DS CONNECTED PILOT option, which opens the way to level 2 autonomous driving.

The Opel and Vauxhall brands are also conducting a major product offensive in the SUV segment with the X-family, which includes the Crossland X, Mokka X, and Grandland X. This represents 167,200 sales in the first half of 2018 for the two brands, which remain also focused on improving profitability in line with the PACE! strategic plan.

Growth in Europe

In Europe, consolidated sales totalled 1,673,700 units, up 61.5%, of which 550,900 Opel and Vauxhall vehicles. The Group’s market share expanded by six points to 17.2%.

Peugeot has made the most progress of all the brands since the beginning of the year. The PEUGEOT 2008 and PEUGEOT 3008 ended in May in second and third place in their respective segments, and the new PEUGEOT 508 has been very well received, with more than 2,000 orders placed since its launch, including 1,000 for the First Edition version, which can only be ordered online.

Opel/Vauxhall is continuing its product offensive in Europe, driven by the X-Family, and is the leading brand in the B-SUV segment with 122,600 units Mokka X and Crossland X sold. After launching the sporty Insignia GSi, the brand will also release a GSi version of the Corsa in the second half. The new Combo Life and Cargo models will also contribute to the new momentum.