Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën

Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile Limited
Private joint venture
Industry Automotive
Founded 1992 (Wuhan)
Headquarters Wuhan, Hubei, China
Products Automobiles
Owner Dongfeng Motor Corporation (50%)
PSA Peugeot Citroën (50%)
Website www.dpca.com.cn/publish/index.jsp
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën
Simplified Chinese 神龙汽车有限公司
Traditional Chinese 神龍汽車有限公司
Literal meaning Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile Limited
2014 Citroën C3-XR[1] (DPCA)
Peugeot 508
Citroën C5 II (DPCA)
Peugeot 3008 (DPCA)
Citroën C4L Sedan (DPCA)
Peugeot 2008 (DPCA)
Citroën C-Quatre (DPCA)
Peugeot 408 II (DPCA)
Citroën C-Elysée (DPCA)
Citroën C-Elysée WTCC

Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile Limited[2] (DPCA) is a joint venture between the Dongfeng Motor Corporation and the French PSA Peugeot Citroën. Based in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, it manufactures Peugeot and Citroën models for sale in China.[2] Imported models are also sold although by a separate, wholly PSA-owned subsidiary, Peugeot Citroën (China) Automotive Trade Co Ltd.[2]

In 2014 in China, Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën increased its sales by 30% in an overall market growth of 11% and sold 734,000 cars. [3][4] Dongfeng Citroën ranked highest in the 2014 customer satisfaction survey by JD Power in China, above the luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW, and above mass market brands like Volkswagen ranking thirteenth and seventeenth.[5] Dongfeng Peugeot ranked also far above the average for the other automotive manufacturers.

Citroën and Peugeot brought to China their philosophy of education partnership and charity,[6] as well as at university[7] than at primary school.

History

PSA Peugeot Citroën was an early entrant in the Chinese auto market. In 1983 and 1984, the Citroën division competed against Volkswagen for the 'large car' contract in the nascent Chinese auto market - the winner went on to form Shanghai Volkswagen in 1984 with SAIC Motor. [8] The Citroën CX model was actually sold in China during this time - as a high end taxi.[9][10][11]

In 1985, the Peugeot division established a Chinese company, Guangzhou Peugeot Automobile Company, as a joint venture with the government of Guangzhou.[12] This company built the outdated Peugeot 504 as a pick-up and was defunct by 1997.[2]

The Citroën division's original effort eventually resulted in a second opportunity.[13] Responding to a request for a foreign partner from large, indigenous vehicle makers Dongfeng Motor Corporation (a deal already rejected by Toyota) to build smaller vehicles, they planned on Chinese production of the Citroën ZX.[14] Delayed by two years due to French government resistance following the Tiananmen Square massacre, the project only came off the ground in 1992. The joint venture company was located in Wuhan and was known as Dongfeng Citroën Automobile Company (DCAC).[15]

Established in 1992 producing from semi-complete knock-down kits, by 1996 production capacity had reached 150,000 units/year, and its second offering, the Fukang 988 sedan, was added in 1998.[2] Its first product was a hatchback built from semi-complete knock-down kits, the ZX Fukang.[2] The project was never very successful, due to a limited lineup and delays at the beginning.[14]

While most current offerings are versions of cars available in other markets, some vehicles have been tailored to better suit local demand such as changing hatchbacks to three-box designs.[16]

When the Peugeot division gave up its failed Guangzhou venture, it joined Dongfeng, creating the current Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile (DPCA) and in 2002 DPCA introduced the company's first Peugeot-branded model.

By mid-2014 when DPCA was operating three car-manufacturing plants in China with a capacity of creating 750,000 vehicles a year, the group announced it was building a fourth plant, in Chengdu, in Sichuan province, which would be capable of producing 300,000 sport-utility and multipurpose vehicles a year. The factory was expected to open at the end of 2016.[17]

Operations

Production bases and facilities

The joint venture has three production bases, one in Wuhan, and two in Hubei province.[2]

In July 2014 DPCA revealed it was building a fourth factory in China, in Chengdu, in Sichuan province. The new plant, scheduled to open in late 2016, was to have a capacity of producing 300,000 sport-utility and multipurpose vehicles a year.[17]

PSA Peugeot Citroën has two facilities in Shanghai—an R&D center (China Tech Center) and a design center.[18]

In 2013 PSA sold 557,000 cars in China. In 2014 it was targeting 750,000 sales.[17]

Dealer network

Its dealer network boasts nearly 300 Citroën shops in over 200 Chinese cities and about 170[18] Peugeot showrooms (other sales and service stores that carry and cater to Peugeots do exist).[2] Imported models are usually not carried.[2]

Products

Citroën and Peugeot models sold in China over the years have included are listed below. Imported models are mainly sold through DPCA dealerships to complement the range of locally produced cars.[2]

During the 2000s, the Citroën cars built and sold by DPCA were the Citroën Xsara Picasso MPV -identical to the European version-, the Citroën C-Triomphe -a top of segment sedan compact car, based on the first generation of the Citroën C4, second of the 2005 European Car of the Year- and the Citroën Fukang, a popular sedan car, based on the Citroën Xsara. The imported Citroën cars were mainly the top of range model Citroën C6, the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso MPV, and the new Citroën C4 Coupé.[2] The Peugeot cars range built in China was the Peugeot 307 sedan and hatchback, the Peugeot 206 and Peugeot 207 sedan and hatchback. The top of range Peugeot models were imported : Peugeot 607, Peugeot 407, Peugeot 407 Coupé, Peugeot 407 SW, Peugeot 307 CC (for Coupé Cabriolet), Peugeot 308 CC, Peugeot 308 SW and Peugeot 207 CC.[2]

During the 2010s, PSA Peugeot Citroën has increased its number of new locally produced models. 2013 and especially 2014 were the years of the ranges renewal. The Citroën car models include the 2014 Citroën C3-XR,[1] Citroën C5, Citroën C4L -a specific C+ top of range compact sedan version of the 2010 Citroën C4 hatchback- and 2013 Citroën C-Elysée. The Peugeot models built in China are the 2014 Peugeot 2008, the specific Chinese version of the Peugeot 3008 SUV, the Peugeot 308 sedan, the 2014 Peugeot 308, the 2014 Peugeot 408, the 2014 Peugeot 508 and 2014 Peugeot 301. The Citroën imported models are mainly the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso MPV and the Citroën C4 Aircross SUV. Peugeot imported models are mainly the high-end ones like the Peugeot RCZ, Citroën C4 Grand Picasso or also the Peugeot 4008.

PSA Peugeot Citroën signed an exclusive agreement with Dongfeng to sell its imported models from 2015.[19]

The Citroën DS5, Citroën DS 5LS and DS 6WR models are built and sold in China by Citroën DS/PSA, but these are by another joint venture, Changan PSA, established in 2010.[20] [21]

Ownership

Ownership of the joint venture has evolved since its establishment in 1992. In 2000, ownership was: 31%, Dongfeng Motor Corporation; 39%, Chinese banks; 26.9%, Citroën; 3.1%, international banks.[2] In 2010 DPCA became equally owned.[2]

In 2014, Dongfeng took a 14% stake in the PSA Peugeot Citroën parent company.[22]

Sales figures

Sources PSA[25] · [26]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "PSA launches Citroën C3-XR, 4th Chinese-built SUV". Automotive News. November 25, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 China Division: PSA Peugeot Citroën in China; NEWS KIT (PDF), PSA Peugeot Citroën, April 2010
  3. ↑ Wall Street Journal April 20, 2015, page B4
  4. ↑ "In the first nine months of 2014, DPCA sold 518,000 vehicles in China, an increase of 30% in a market up 11%.". PSA. 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Dongfeng Citroen tie for top score in China satisfaction survey". Automotive News. 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-11-10.
  6. ↑ "Construction sponsored by Citroen on a primary school in Guangxi Zhuang and the beginning of the 2012 Citroen Red Crayon Campaign.". China Daily. 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2014-12-07.
  7. ↑ "PSA Peugeot Citroën University initiates 23 partnerships.". PSA Peugeot Citroën. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2014-12-07. the Group has signed a letter of intent with Tongji University in Shanghai
  8. ↑ http://europe.autonews.com/article/20060220/ANE/60307018/a-whole-new-world
  9. ↑ http://knoema.com/pjeqzh/gdp-per-capita-by-country-1980-2013#China
  10. ↑ http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_229951-Citroen-CX-1984.html Clive James spots a CX in Shanghai
  11. ↑ http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2009/04/citroen-cx-taxi-cabs.html
  12. ↑ Fernandez, Juan Antonio; Liu, Shengjun (2007), China CEO: a case guide for business leaders in China, Singapore: John Wiley and Sons, p. 78, ISBN 978-0-470-82224-1
  13. ↑ http://vintagedriving.com/classic-cars/citroen/citroen-cx/
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Komura, Chikara (2000). Hamada, Kōichi; Matsushita, Mitsuo; Kōmura, Chikara, eds. "Comments on "Automobile Industrial Policy and WTO Agreements: China and Taiwan", presented by Cheng-Cherng Chen". Dreams and Dilemmas: Economic Friction and Dispute Resolution in the Asia-Pacific (Singapore: Seikei University Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, Japan): 167. ISBN 981-230-069-4.
  15. ↑ Thun, Eric (2006). Changing lanes in China: foreign direct investment, local government, and auto sector development (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-0-521-84382-9.
  16. ↑ Åhman, Michael, ed. (1999). Bilkatalogen 2000 (Swedish edition of German Auto Katalog) (in Swedish). Solna, Sweden: Auto Motor & Sport Sverige AB. p. 149.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Partners Peugeot and Dongfeng to build fourth car factory in Sichuan". China News.Net. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Peugeot sees China driving its brand chinadaily.com.cn, 2010-10-29
  19. ↑ "Dongfeng-PSA to sell imported vehicles in 2015 in China.". Automotive news. November 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-07.
  20. ↑ CAPSA – Chang’an-PSA’s new joint venture company chinacartimes.com, June 15, 2011
  21. ↑ http://www.carnewschina.com/2014/09/29/citroen-ds6-suv-launched-on-the-china-car-market/
  22. ↑ "Peugeot signs Dongfeng deal, recovery hurdles remain". Reuters. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Sur la voie de la globalisation" (in French). PSA Peugeot Citroën. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  24. ↑ Wall Street Journal April 20, 2015, page B4
  25. ↑ Dossier de presse PSA (1996-2005)
  26. ↑ "Dossier de presse Chine - avril 2011" (PDF) (in French). PSA Peugeot Citroën. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.

External links