Peugeot has promised to launch at least one new model per year in China to increase the French brand's presence in the rapidly expanding Chinese market.
The new cars will be designed and built in China solely for the Chinese market and Peugeot is planning the first of these for the Shanghai Motor Show this month (April 2011).
No firm details have been announced, but Peugeot has let slip the new model will be a four-wheel drive crossover and describes it as "cutting edge". It will use a petrol-electric hybrid power source and Peugeot says it "represents another pillar in the company's integration in the land of the dragon." More importantly, Peugeot recognises crossovers as growing area of sales in China.
Along with this purely Chinese model, Peugeot will also launch the new 508 at the Shanghai show. Peugeot reckons 50 per cent of all 508 saloon production will be sold in China, with a sales target of 65,000 vehicles in the first year.