2012 is the year that marks a decade of the Peugeot brand officially returning to South Africa and to mark the auspicious occasion, Peugeot will be extensively expanding its model line-up, its dealership network, and have announced a five-year full maintenance plan as standard across the Peugeot passenger car range.
Hoping to address the perceived problem of French reliability and aftersales service, Peugeot has reiterated its commitment to timeous parts supply and warehousing with its R100-million, 8 000 m2 parts distribution and storage facility that has been operational since 2008. A facility which has tripled the size, according to the annual Kinsley report, of Peugeot’s parts capacity and allowed for dramatic improvements in parts supply rates.
Upcoming cars to look out for in 2012 are the 4008 all-terrainer, their first fully-fledged small SUV, and the all-new 208 compact hatchback, which the French brand believes will add significant appeal in its category. Joining the recently launched 508 sedan, the updated 308 as well as the 5008 MPV and crossover 3008, give Peugeot a more diverse product portfolio than they have had in decades.
PSA managing director, Francis Harnie says, “Our line-up of cars hopes to deliver class-leading levels of quality, refinement, standard specification with cutting-edge technology and safety. The entire automotive industry has gone through a major shake-up in recent years, and Peugeot was also compelled to focus on quality and efficiency, rather than sales volumes,” Harnie says.
“However, the positive prevailing market conditions have allowed us to once again strengthen and diversify our product portfolio in order to be more competitive, and to appeal to a wider range of customers,” Harnie adds. “In order to drive this process, the company is expanding its dealer network from 24 dealers currently, to a total of 31 by the end of 2012 – which is a far cry from only six original dealers a decade ago,” Harnie points out.
PSA’s recent introduction of distinctive, quality cars to join its already well-priced, competitive staple offerings, together with their five-year full maintenance plan, means Peugeot are a company making all the right moves at the moment to signify their upward trajectory.
