Is There a Way for Peugeot to the U.S.A?! /Update/

Several years ago, Groupe PSA (mostly known as Peugeot and Citroën)  announced that it wants to get back into the States after 33 years of interruption. Back then the main question was how this is possible?! Of course, Peugeot has models that can be a direct competitor to some models already sold in the U.S. but French cars were entry- and mid-level models only compared to the North American market. Adding the fact that Groupe PSA doesn’t have any dealerships out there, we can conclude that this is a very high goal.

See the Peugeot history and models compared with the models already sold in the States. Read the whole article inside the Dro4Cars Magazine 1 March 2020, download it without ads from patreon.com/dro4cars here:  https://bit.ly/3df5hyJ

Around the same time, Groupe PSA made the deal with the German brand Opel was owned by GM for too many years. Opel is known as a European brand. There are some attempts Opel models to be sold in the States and most successful as rebadged Buick (still uses designs developed with Opel), Cadilac models, and sharing a lot of components with SAAB around the mid-2000s.  If you think that Opel did make the way to Peugeot easier to the States – you wrong. It could be considered as an influence on different markets where the French brand doesn’t have good positions; it for sure could affect the price from different suppliers; mainly Groupe PSA increased its assets. In short – Peugeot bought one of the competitors in Europe and grew up.

 

 

The times are changed. The models are changed. We’re living in the era of electrical vehicles. For example, at the moment January 20, 2021, the models of Ford in the segment cars are the Ford Fusion (Ford Mondeo in EU) and the Ford Mustang. Years ago, we can compare the Ford Fiesta with the Peugeot 208, the Ford Focus with the Peugeot 308 as these models used to offer some sport hatchback models like the Ford Focus RS and the Peugeot 308 GT as each of these models competes with the VW Golf GTI, Honda Civic Type R, and so on. That’s history. Most of the models now are PHEV available or all-electric SUVs in all kinds of sizes. Still, there are models with internal combustion engines but now it’s time for capitalization the investments in electromobility that every automotive company made or was forced to make.

1. The 1999 - 2005 Opel Omega B2 (it's a facelift of the second generation Omega B1 in production from 1994; the first generation is also known as the Chevrolet Omega in some markets) with the rebadged version the 1997-2003 Cadillac Catera (2). This shows how some European models are sold in the States.

3. The 2004-2008 SAAB 9-3 is similar to the 2005-2009 Cadillac BLS (4) - both models show an attempt for an American brand like Cadillac to be presented on the EU market. You can see that the interior of both models is pretty much the same.

On the left side: the 2020 Peugeot 208 with its competitors that have been or used to be on the U.S. market:

5. The 2021 Toyota Yaris GR - an upcoming model for the States;

6. MY 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic; The new model name is Chevrolet Spark. 

7. The 2019 Honda Fit which European version is called the Honda Jazz. 

8. The 2017 Ford Fiesta - this model is discontinued on the U.S. market. 

On the right side: the 2014 Peugeot 308 GTi with its competitors that have been or used to be on the U.S. market:

9. The 2017 Chevrolet Cruz hatchback - this image shows that this model is developed together with the Opel Astra J (10). The Astra has been one of the direct competitors of the Peugeot 308 since the begging in Europe and all other markets where both models participate.

11. The 2021 VW Golf GTi one of the sportest versions of the Golf. A very popular model worldwide. 

12. The 2018 Ford Focus - this model is discontinued on the U.S. market.

13. The 2017 Ford Focus RS - a model the Peugeot 308 GTi would be in competition on the U.S. market.

14. The 2020 Honda Civic Type R - another significant model a competitor to the Peugeot 308. 

Changing the models gives that opportunity for Groupe PSA to get into the States. Of course, they already have similar models but they do not have dealerships out there. So the board management of the French company had decided: “We are going to buy the FCA”. Fiat Chrysler Automotive company owns Fiat, Lancia, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and components and production systems Comau and Mopar. So, buying the FCA gives all the dealerships of the American brand like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep to Peugeot. That’s how they now can accusing onto the North American market. Now we’re talking about the North American market because it would be a shame that these new models won't be sold in Canada. It’s a must – that’s my opinion. I am hyperbolizing this story...

 

 

Of course, Grope PSA did not buy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles they merged into Stellantis. This is a brand new company which Day 1 was on January 16, 2021, and it’s listed on several stock exchange markets. Thus all European brands would be better presented into the States and North American market in general.

The merger between Groupe PSA and FCA is now under the Stellantis company.

Whether Stellantis would invest in new dealerships?

In the beginning, I do think that they will go with all dealerships of the Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, and all other brands that are already in the States. The next step could be the reconstruction of the actual dealerships and last there could be created new dealerships. For sure the door is open for a few all-new dealerships that could be considered as a marketing strategy but at the same time, we have to consider how last year affected the way we buy cars. Whatever is going to happen this is a good sign that all lockdowns around the world are nearby their ends. Soon we can go and travel free with a lot of ways to do it.