PSA Sochaux night shift workers transferring to a day shift will soon be building a new car line based on the Prologue concept displayed at recent motor shows, a PSA spokesman said on Wednesday.
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He told just-auto PSA hoped to make a decision by the end of the week and halt the night shift – which builds the 308 line – by 2 February.
The 1,300 workers full-time affected would transfer to a second day shift line building the new 3008 MPV model “later this year”. Temps would not have contracts renewed.
That model and the platform-sharing Citroen Hynos is destined to receive a diesel hybrid driveline option developed with Bosch by around 2011.
“The new model is due to be launched on an existing second production line at the plant,” the spokesman said.
“The idea is to create a second day shift before the end of the summer to support the launch of the new model.
“It’s restructuring the shift pattern so the night shift would move to become a second day shift.
“People aren’t buying as many cars as expected. The reduction of the night shift now will make sure we are not adding additional stock while at the same time allowing the plant to gear up for the launch of this new model.”
Graeme Roberts
