PSA Peugeot Citroën Exceeds 2001 Sales Target

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News of January 09, 2002

PSA Peugeot Citroën Exceeds 2001 Sales Target

3,134,000 Vehicles Sold
Sales Up 11.3% For the Year and
By Nearly 50% Over Four Years
2002 Target: 3,250,000 Vehicles

Paris - PSA Peugeot Citroën has exceeded its sales target of three million vehicles for 2001, with strong growth lifting worldwide sales to 3,134,000 units from 2,816,000 in 2000. At a time when global demand contracted by 1.2%, the performance represented an 11.3% increase over the prior year and helped to raise total growth in unit sales to nearly 50% over the past four years. The increase was driven by strong demand for Peugeot and Citroën vehicles, as both marques again set sales records in 2001.

PSA Peugeot Citroën is the world's sixth-largest automobile manufacturer, with more than 5.4% of the global market and the strongest growth of any broadline carmaker in 2001.

Highlights of the year

In Western Europe, PSA Peugeot Citroën consolidated its position as the second-ranked manufacturer of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, widening its share of the market to 15% from 13.7% in 2000. Registrations totaled 2,510,000 units, up 10.1% in a nearly stable market (up 0.3%).

The Group confirmed its European market leadership in the commercial segment, with registrations of light commercial vehicles increasing 4.1% to a total of 364,500, for a market share of 19.6%.

The Group also strengthened its position as Europe's second-largest manufacturer of passenger cars, with registrations up 10% to 2,143,900 vehicles and a market share of 14.5%.

Successes of the year

Bolstered by the introduction of the coupe-cabriolet, the Peugeot 206 enjoyed sustained demand throughout the year and was Western Europe's best selling car in the second half. In all, sales grew nearly 16% to 828,000 units.

The Peugeot 307 has received a number of awards since it was launched in late April 2001 and was voted European Car of the Year 2002. More than 300,000 units were manufactured during the year.

The Xsara Picasso was a top seller for Citroën, with sales up 36% to 231,000 units.

In addition, the Citroën line was expanded with the introduction of the C5 in sedan and station wagon versions. The model met its target for the year, selling 130,000 units worldwide.

Demand also remained strong for the Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Partner, whose sales increased 11.1% to nearly 300,000 units.

The availability of the high-pressure direct injection (HDI) diesel engine on nearly all models helped the Group respond to the sustained growth in European demand for diesel-powered cars. Today, vehicles with diesel powertrains account for 49% of Group sales. More than a million HDI-equipped cars were sold in 2001, an increase of close to 40%.

The Peugeot 607 and some Citroën C5 and Peugeot 406 and 307 models are now equipped with PSA Peugeot Citroën particle filters. Since the launch of the Peugeot 607 in May 2000, the filter has been installed on 133,000 vehicles. This is expected to double in 2002.

Western Europe

A total of 2,510,000 Peugeot and Citröen cars and light commercial vehicles were registered in Western Europe in 2001, an increase of 10.1%. The Group's market share rose in all the major Western European markets and widened by 1.3 points to 15% in the 17-country region.

PSA Peugeot Citröen is the market leader in France, Spain, Belgium and Denmark and ranks second in the United Kingdom, Portugal, the Netherlands and Greece.

In France, sustained demand for Peugeot and Citroën cars and light commercial vehicles led to a 12.7% rise in registrations and a more than two-point increase in market share to 34%.

Sales rose by 1.8% in Spain, maintaining the Group's number one position with 22.2% of the local market. Citroën, which ranks second in passenger cars and first in light commercial vehicles, reported a near-record 200,000 registrations. The Xsara was once again the country's best-selling car.

In the United Kingdom, sales growth of 21.9% lifted PSA Peugeot Citroën into second place among the country's carmakers, with a market share of 13.7%. Peugeot sold more than 221,000 vehicles, easily surpassing the previous year's record and consolidating its position as the market's number three marque. Thanks to an exceptional 47% increase in sales, Citroën set a new record with 151,000 registrations of cars and light commercial vehicles.

In Germany, where the market contracted by a slight 1%, registrations of PSA Peugeot Citröen vehicles rose by 6.4% to 171,000 units. The Group now holds 4.8% of the market.

Outside Western Europe

Sales by outside Western Europe rose by 22.7% to 590,000 units, of which 415,000 Peugeots and 175,000 Citroëns. They accounted for 18.8% of the consolidated total, versus 17% in 2000.

The Mercosur countries experienced highly contrasting economic trends during the year, but PSA Peugeot Citroën sales continued to grow, rising 7.8% overall for a market share of nearly 4.5%. Some 83,000 vehicles were sold, including 60,000 Peugeots and 23,000 Citroëns. Registrations were up 57% in Brazil, where the market grew by only 6.8%. In Argentina, where demand dropped by more than 41.5%, market share nevertheless improved by nearly three points despite a 30.6% decline in sales. On February 1, the Group inaugurated its Porto Real manufacturing center in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the Peugeot 206 and Citroën Xsara Picasso are now being produced.

In Central Europe (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia), unit sales rose 17.6% to 95,000 despite an aggregate 12.6% decline in demand, enabling the Group to hold 10.5% of the market.

In Iran, Peugeot reported very strong growth in CKD billings, which rose to 105,000 units from 46,000 in 2000.

Citroën volumes were stable in China, where 54,000 ZX Fukangs were registered during the year. In November 2001, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Dong Feng Motors. This second phase of cooperation between the two companies should lead to substantial increases in the production and sale of Group vehicles in China through the introduction of new models, including from the Peugeot marque..

In Japan, where the Group recorded spectacular growth of more than 50% in 2000, sales continued to increase in 2001 in a flat market, rising by 11% to 14,000 units.

Outlook for 2002: 3,250,000 vehicles

Because of the worldwide economic slowdown, PSA Peugeot Citröen is expecting demand in Western Europe to be flat or decline slightly in 2002. Nonetheless, the Group intends to maintain its growth momentum in 2002 and achieve unit sales of 3,250,000 thanks to the launch of several new models.

(January 4, 2002)

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