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Automotive group PSA Peugeot Citroen plans to open its India innings in 2012 under the Peugeot brand, even as its Gujarat plant starts operations by 2014.
From next year, the French carmaker will start appointing dealers and launch the flagship 508 premium sedan as a completely-built unit (CBU) import in both petrol and diesel variants. In the Rs 18-22 lakh price range, the Peugeot 508 competes with cars such as the Honda Accord and the Volkswagen Passat.
“There's no decision on the entry of the Citroen brand yet. First we need to get our network and infrastructure in place, before the plant comes up by 2014 – which will be our first full year of operations. We will have a top-down strategy,” a company official told Business Line . The company has already started work at its plant site.
An industry official close to the development added, “They've decided to come with Peugeot, because they feel that it has a brand recall in India. They will start test marketing with CBU models from 2012 before the volume models come in.”
The last of the 10 major global automotive groups to enter the domestic market, Peugeot has committed an investment of Rs 4,000 crore over the next few years for a plant with maximum annual capacity of 3.4 lakh units.
It has been allotted 560 acres at Sanand (near Ahmedabad), of which it aims to initially use about 292 acres to set up an initial annual capacity of 1.7 lakh units.
Presence at Expo
The car maker also has big plans for the Auto Expo in January. At least three models destined for India are expected to be unveiled on a display floor size of about 500 sq metres.
“The Auto Expo will mark our first formal presence in India. We will display vehicles that will best demonstrate the DNA of Peugeot. We have just developed the world's first diesel hybrid,” said the company official.
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