PSA Peugeot Citroen on Wednesday said sales of new vehicles and CKD units up 16.9% to 1,856,000 units set a new half year record.
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Global markets rose by an aggregate 13% in the first half of 2010, led by China (up 27%) and Latin America (up 11%). Demand in Europe was slightly up, but growth varied widely by country.
Sales of assembled vehicles rose 16.8% to 1,618,000 units while CKD kit shipments rose 18% to 237,000, lifted by Peugeot output.
Jean-Marc Gales, executive vice president, brands, said: “First-half 2010 was our best half-year ever in terms of unit sales.”
In a European passenger car and light commercial vehicle market that rose by 1.1% in the first half, registrations of PSA Peugeot Citroën vehicles increased 7.7% to 1,214,000 units. During the period, market share improved sharply to 14.6%, up 1 point compared with first-half 2009.The most notable gains were in Italy, up 1.2 points, and the United Kingdom, up 0.3 points.
Sales outside Europe accounted for 36% of the consolidated first-half total, compared with 34% in 2009.
Latin American markets increased sharply, led by Brazil (up 7%) and Argentina (up 21%). The group reported 13% growth in consolidated sales for the period, with a market share of 5.3%.
Sales in China rose to a new record high in the first-half, gaining 49% to more than 176,000 vehicles in a market up 27% and helping to lift market share to 3.3% from 3.2% in first-half 2009.
Buoyed by scrapping incentives for domestically produced vehicles since March, the Russian market rose by 3% during the first-half but the group’s sales declined by 7.6% and market share was 2.5%.
“Assembly of Peugeot 308 and Citroën C4 models at the Kaluga plant, which was inaugurated in April, will effectively position the group in the second half to capitalise on the expected return to growth,” PSA said.
PSA Peugeot Citroën strengthens its environmental leadership
One of the Group’s key strategic ambitions is to maintain its leadership in low-carbon vehicles. During the first half of 2010, average emissions by Peugeot and Citroën vehicles continued to decline, to 133.2g of CO2/km from 135.5g in 2009.
Vehicles emitting less than 120g/km accounted for 40% of total sales.
Outlook for 2010
As announced at the beginning of the year, the Group expects automotive markets in Europe to contract by around 9% over the year.
Outside Europe, the Chinese market should enjoy another year of double-digit growth, while markets in Latin America are expected to see single digit growth.
In Europe, the Group should see further market share gains, led by the favourable impact of the product dynamic.
