Peugeot 208 production cut back only months after launch | CarAdvice

Car Advice
  • Home
  • »  Peugeot 208 production cut back only months after launch

Peugeot 208 production cut back only months after launch

PEUGEOT 208
By David Zalstein |
FIND DEALS

Production of the all-new Peugeot 208 is being cut by PSA Peugeot Citroen in response to slowing demand for the city car across European markets only six months after its April launch.

Industry journal Automotive News Europe reports that a company spokesperson confirmed the French car maker is reducing production of the Peugeot 208 along with its sales outlook as a reaction to the continuing slump in sales across Europe.

Peugeot 208 - 1

While reports exist of plans for Peugeot to drop its sales targets from 175,000 units to 140,000 and reduce its hourly production rate from 52 vehicles to 35 at its Poissy factory starting from October 10 ahead of entirely cancelling one of the plant’s three shifts in early December remain unconfirmed, a representative from France’s General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union told Automotive News Europe that Peugeot will cease its 208 production night shift at Poissy at the end of November.

Peugeot had previously forecast global 208 sales of 550,000 units and a European figure of 420,000 units for 2013.

Peugeot 208 GTi - 1

In July this year PSA announced a plan to cut 8000 jobs and close its Aulnay plant near Paris in a previous attempt to deal with financial difficulties.

The Peugeot 208 went on sale in Australia last month, starting from $18,490, with the new Peugeot 208 GTi (pictured above) due to arrive next year.


 

  • Radio 3DB

    I’m not surprised by this from the fusebox in the glovebox company.

    • Legnab

      Whats a fuse box .

    • Daz

       Who honestly cares? My car has the bonnet release on the passenger side. doesn’t bother me at all. Get over it.

    • Zaccy16

      yeah thats very bad design, other coountries that sawp from left hand drive to right don’t have this problem

  • Luke Brinsmead

    I didn’t realise night shifts were involved with car making. Peugeot should target the Chinese and Indian market more so if they want a piece of the pie.

    • Atul

      we are not that stupid to buy this car dude ,better check what car we buy on Indian car web.

  • http://twitter.com/SamMoss8191 Sam Moss

    Not a good sign, but I guess it’s still early days. With increasing competition from Asian and other European competitors, Peugeot will need to ensure that quality is improved upon and maintained. 

    • RUE1

      I just wish people would stop hammering on about Peugeots build quality it’s no better or worse than any other manufacturer…our family is onto its 5th Pug in the last 6years and have covered over 250000km with no significant issues…can’t say the same for my 2010 Mercedes C250CGI that has had more trips to the dealer than all 5 Pugs combined… These aren’t the same pugs from the 90′s folks!

      • Legnab

        Agreed my lady had a 205GTi from new did 55k and one small dash electrics  issue under warranty fixed .

        Magic car to drive on B roads , very good handling .

        • Zaccy16

          Yeah the 205 is one of the best pugs in my opinion!

      • http://twitter.com/SamMoss8191 Sam Moss

        I agree with you, just saying that Peugeot can’t afford to let their quality levels slip again. The current auto market is highly volatile at present, so it’s imperative that Peugeot do all they can to retain customers. 

      • Radio 3DB

        You are probably right, but a lot of punters are suspicious of reliability and running costs. One way is for PSA to run a factory operation in Australia and offer a 5 year warranty.

        • Chevrons

          PSA’s Citroen built the DS line in Heidelberg, Victoria in the 60′s. Not sure if revisiting this would help Peugeot or not. The great pricing on the 208 and the fixed price servicing should be a huge advantage.

      • Jimbo

        I had a 207 touring that had numerous electrical problems, build quality was poor compared to my now Mazda and Skoda. Chewed through tyres every 35000km and the dealer wouldn’t even back their extended warranty… Glad to read that yours were ok but I will never buy another Pug!

        • Billo

          The 207/307 and to an extent the 308 are pretty terrible cars in terms of build quality and electric’s so no surprises their. The new generation of Peugeots i.e. the 208, the 508 and rcz etc are in a whole different ballgame and should prove to be more reliable. Hopefully. 

          • Peugeot307HDi

             What do you base your statement on. I own a 2007 2 litre HDI and it is reliable and economical. It is comfortable to drive and leaves a lot of other cars in its wake when it comes to highway cruising. I have done 4 trips to WA from SA in it and all I can say, is there is a lot if misinformation from misinformed people out there about Peugeots. The only reason I have not bought another Peugeot is that we only have one dealer in SA, and they are over and hour and a half from my location to get it serviced. Would I buy another Peugeot? Yes, if I lived closer!

      • Roc500

        You’ve had 5 Pugs in 6 years… ?  That sounds about how long they last…  I’m kidding of course, but I did have a Peugeot which was a flipping nightmare – expensive parts, indifferent dealers and insane servicing costs mean I’ll never get a Pug in Australia.  Having said that, my 405 was the most fun to drive – when it wasn’t on blocks.

        • Zaccy16

          yeah french cars are a mixed bag in reliabilty terms

  • http://twitter.com/klowik klowik

    if French cars have to compete, pls lower the price of their parts and services. otherwise, people would just buy Korean or Japanese cars.

    • Pauy

      Peugeot are offering fixed price servicing in Australia to finally get rid of that view that they are too expensive to maintain.

  • James

    Peugeots and renaults are perceived to be too unreliable and this affects resale value. Not to mention parts are as expensive as those in German cars. Their problem is that they’re not premium cars yet they’re not cheap/reliable and their certainly not large and powerful. They simply don’t appeal to anybody outside of highly dense Euro cities.