Peugeot, Citroën and DS to return to the USA

"tapzz" (tapzz) 03/14/2016 at 08:41 • Filed to: citroen, peugeot

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Now that PSA has survived the European carpocalypse and made some money, it it has a “push to pass” plan to expand internationally, very much including the US.

According to Yves Bonnefant, chief of DS, the most likely first candidate for the jump back across the pond is the new DS brand, since it make the biggest and fanciest vehicles of the PSA group. Which makes sense, except that the DS brand doesn’t make any sense, unfortunately; they’re all spruced up ex-Citroën vehicles that have nothing identifiable in common with the legendary 1955 - 1975 Citroën DS. But whatevs. The DS5 is kinda interesting, and the DS3 a reasonable Fiat 500 alternative.

Fortunately, Linda Jackson of Citroën is also planning a return, which would be great news for fanciers of cheap and quirky crossovers like the Cactus and out and proud minivan mavens for the Picassos. Citroën also made a deal with partners in Quebec about the development of electric vehicles there.

No word from Peugeot, but it’s not excluded. Hard to think of one that could really make an impression in the land of the brave now that the RCZ is going, though. The 508 wagon is suitably brown, diesely and manuel equipped, I suppose.

Source: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Image credits: PSA

pip bip - choose Corrour > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 09:10

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bring it on!

djmt1 > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 09:14

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Like I said last time this story came up. What are the French known for. Diesels, FWD and Hatchbacks. Not exactly popular segments in the US. Still like you said, they make many a popular car on the internet and hey they are cheap so who knows.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 09:15

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I will count this as rumor until it is confirmed, but I still want a Cactus.

tapzz > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 03/14/2016 at 09:35

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This is all straight on the record from PSA bosses in their outline of a new PSA growth plan to German journalists at the Geneva show. The full plan is to be unveiled on April 5th.

I’m sure there could be lots of hickups and blocks before it all happens for real, but I’ve never heard them be so serious in their intent.

wiffleballtony > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 09:40

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Despite the fact that I’d never buy anything they make this us good news. More choices are always better for the consumer.

Cé hé sin > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 09:50

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I can’t see any of the PSA range appealing in large enough numbers to the Americans to make it worthwhile.

Most of them are hatchbacks, not a huge market sector over there while the only two saloons I can think of, the C5 and 508, are too small. In any case unless they build in America or better still Mexico they won’t be able to sell at a competitive price.

Also, no pickups or engines with more than four cylinders.

tapzz > Cé hé sin 03/14/2016 at 10:07

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I think they’re hoping to sell the same DS models they make in and for China in the US- like this DS6 WR.

I think they also have a larger DS limo in the works.

Other than that, I can see the Cactus succeeding if they keep the price right. Similarly for the Picassos; it’d make an interesting alternative to a Mazda5, which could use some competition.

I’d have thought that the 508 is big enough for the US; it’s on a par with a Mazda6, I’d have thought. But drivetrains are indeed crucial; both engines and gearboxes. Perhaps they’re hoping on the Hybrid4 system?

Johnnyazz > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 03/14/2016 at 10:52

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when I was working at FCA they had a Cactus for benchmarking, I loved seeing it. it looks fantastic and incredibly interesting, if the Juke can sell, the Cactus can sell.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 11:15

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The DS3 is a very nice car only let down by too light steering (I'm told newer model years fixed this though, I drove a 2011), I'd have one over a 500 for sure. The c4 cactus seems nice too I have a test drive in one booked, only had a sit in one so far.

torque > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 11:26

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I’d love to see it, US needs some French weirdness, however I’ll believe it when I see it.

Cé hé sin > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 13:28

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I thought they were dropping Hybrid 4 on the grounds of it being not much good?

tapzz > Cé hé sin 03/14/2016 at 14:31

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Really? That’s a shame, I rather liked the idea.

ranwhenparked > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 19:24

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Product cycles being what they are, we probably won’t get any of the more interesting products PSA is selling right now. We just have to hope their replacements don’t lose the plot and get watered down.

tapzz > ranwhenparked 03/14/2016 at 19:58

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Well, PSA have some ways to go on DS; those are not up to par at the moment, IMHO. The DS3 is OK, I suppose, and the DS5 is a great concept hobbled by compromised execution. The rest is dross, frankly.

If they fix those, PSA’ll stand a chance in the US, but that fixing’s going to take a while.

Where it gets interesting is what they’ll do with Citroën; the Cactus will be with us for a looong time yet, but I honestly don’t know whether it’ll find a market in the US. Same, but to a lesser extent, with the C3 and C4 Picassos... They could be massive Mini hits, or sink like Smart. It’d be really interesting to watch...

ranwhenparked > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 20:00

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I’m still of the opinion that Smart USA doesn’t have any problem that two extra seats couldn’t fix.

tapzz > ranwhenparked 03/14/2016 at 20:13

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You guys still don’t have the forFour?

ranwhenparked > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 20:14

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No, Daimler specifically told US Smart dealers that we won’t ever get it, since their studies showed that it would only double sales.

tapzz > ranwhenparked 03/14/2016 at 20:21

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Which, of course, is highly undesirable.



ranwhenparked > tapzz 03/14/2016 at 20:28

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I know, right? Daimler North America claims that doubling sales still would’t be enough to justify the costs of federalizing the ForFour, they would have to be able to move much more than that.

However, the same exact sales volume was apparently enough to justify federalizing the ForTwo.