'PSA Peugeot Citroën' (PSA) is a
French automobile and
motorcycle manufacturer; these are sold under the
Peugeot and
Citroën ''
marques''.
History
In 1974 Peugeot SA acquired a 38.2% share of Citroën. In 1976 they increased their stake of the now
bankrupt company to 89.95%, thus creating the ''PSA Group'' (where PSA is short for Peugeot
Société Anonyme, later to be changed to PSA Peugeot Citroën). Since Citroën had two successful new designs in the market at this time (the
GS and
CX) and
Peugeot was typically prudent in its own finances, the PSA venture was a financial success from 1976 to 1979. In 1979, PSA purchased the ageing assets of
Chrysler Europe for USD $1 billion, leading to losses for the consortium from 1980 to 1985.
[1] During this period, PSA lost its traditional competitive footing in the
executive car market and has never recovered.
The company
The two brands retained their separate sales and marketing structures, but have benefited from a common technology, development and assembling assets.
PSA is actively committed to develop its market presence and sales in many fast growing
developing countries and regions of the world. This led to huge investments and partnerships in
South America,
Iran (
Iran Khodro) and
China (
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile).
Jean-Martin Folz was PSA's
CEO between 1996 and early 2007, when he was replaced by former
Airbus head
Christian Streiff.
The Ryton-on-Dunsmore factory
The factory (also known as the Ryton Plant) is wedged between the
A45 (on the northeast) and the A423 (on the southwest), on the south-eastern outskirts of
Coventry, in
Warwickshire,
England. The southeast of the grounds of the factory borders upon
Ryton-on-Dunsmore.
The factory was originally constructed to build aircraft engines during
World War II. After the war it became the headquarters of the
Rootes Group, but when Rootes entered financial difficulties in the 1960's the plant was taken over by
Chrysler, an American car manufacturer . Chrysler itself entered financial difficulties and sold the plant for a symbolic US $1.00 to Peugeot in
1978; although, PSA Peugeot Citroën acquired all its debt in the process.
The first Peugeot to be built at the plant was the
309 in late
1985. The larger
405 followed
two years later. The 309's successor, the 306, was made at Ryton from
1993 to
2001. The
206 has been made there since
1998, and the 206 SW has been made at Ryton since 2002. The plant has only made vehicles from the 206 range since
2001, in both RHD and LHD configurations and was the sole production facility of RHD Peugeot 206s (excluding the CC). Despite this most Peugeot 206s are produced in France.
The factory was small in relation to other car plants with a work force of around 2,500 people; the plant's weekly output was equivalent to that produced in a day at some of Peugeot's larger French factories. Because of its size, the facility had to make the most of the available space and machinery was located overhead.
On
April 18, 2006
Jean-Martin Folz, the then chief executive of Peugeot Citroën, visited the plant and announced its closure. PSA had previously said that labour costs per unit were higher at Ryton than in mainland Europe. Beginning July 2006 production was slowed by moving from two shifts per day to one. It was originally planned that production would cease in mid 2007, but in October 2006 the closure of the factory was brought forward, because many of the workers had already left. PSA Peugeot Citroën produced their last car at the plant on
12 December 2006. The plant closed in January 2007 with the loss of about 2,300 jobs.
[2]
The production of the 206 and its replacement the 207 were transferred to Slovakia - with the assistance of EU grants, much to the chagrin of Ryton workers.
Collaborations
PSA holds a collaboration agreement with
Fiat known as Sevel (''Société Européenne de Véhicules Légers SpA'', owned 50% by Fiat, 25% by Automobiles Peugeot and 25% by Automobiles Citroën). As a result of this, two factories have been built assembling three ranges of vehicles,
Sevel Nord and
Sevel Sud.
There is a more recent agreement with
Toyota Motor Corporation for the development and manufacturing of a series of
city cars in a new factory in the
Czech Republic. The resulting company is called TPCA (''
Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile'') and it currently manufactures the
Citroën C1,
Peugeot 107 and
Toyota Aygo.
There is also a new agreement with PSA and
BMW; the new
Prince engines designed by this joint venture will replace current PSA's
TU engine family.
In 2005, PSA Peugeot Citroën formed an alliance with
Mitsubishi Motors. Under the deal, PSA Peugeot Citroën will import the
Citroën C-Crosser and
Peugeot 4007 for sale in Europe. Those two models are based on the
Mitsubishi Outlander, and will be assembled at Mitsubishi's plant in
Okazaki, Japan. Engine choices will include PSA Peugeot Citroën's diesel engines and Mitsubishi's petrol engines.
PSA also supplies
Ford with a 1.6l Diesel engine used in the
Ford Focus and the
Volvo S40.
Other interests
PSA also owns the logistics company
Gefco and in the United Kingdom operates the aftermarket parts company Motaquip.
See also
★
Sevel Van
★
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile
★
Vigo, in
Galicia has PSA biggest factory in the world
External links
★
PSA Peugeot Citroën official site
Notes
1. Development of the Simca 180 cars
2. Final car rolls off Ryton's line
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