The one-ton pickup truck segment is booming in Europe and other markets, and Groupe PSA is feeling left behind. In response to this vacuum in its model lineup, PSA signed an agreement with Changan to develop a workhorse of its own, which will boast an all-new platform and go official before decade’s end.
Changan Automobile is a Chinese manufacturer owned by the state, and it’s considered to be one of the Big Four automakers in China from the viewpoint of yearly output. Changan operates a joint venture with Groupe PSA since 2010, the second after the French automaker’s alliance with Dongfeng Motor.
Scheduled to go into production at the Ding Zhou Changan plant in China, the yet-unnamed pickup truck promises to “meet the most stringent worldwide regulations and customers expectation with a very strong design and uncompromised quality and durability.” Both parties would better keep their promise considering how stiff the competition is getting in Europe, including from new arrivals such as the Renault Alaskan (based on Nissan Navara).
To be offered in the People’s Republic of China and most markets where Groupe PSA is present, the one-ton pickup is crucial to the French automaker considering that the light commercial vehicle market represented 14 million vehicles worldwide in 2016. Of the total, the one-ton pickup segment makes up 18 percent of the 14 million LCVs, and yearly increase stands at 5 percent.
“This new product, which is complementary to the Peugeot pickup recently launched in Africa, is in line with the core model strategy of Groupe PSA and will support our come back on this growing market segment,” declared Patrice Lucas, EVP of Programs and Strategy. “It will contribute to achieve the objectives set for the Push to Pass plan regarding LCVs with a target to increase volumes by 30% by 2018 and triple overseas volumes by 2021.”
On a related note, the 2019 Ford Ranger is getting ready for its big reveal.
Scheduled to go into production at the Ding Zhou Changan plant in China, the yet-unnamed pickup truck promises to “meet the most stringent worldwide regulations and customers expectation with a very strong design and uncompromised quality and durability.” Both parties would better keep their promise considering how stiff the competition is getting in Europe, including from new arrivals such as the Renault Alaskan (based on Nissan Navara).
To be offered in the People’s Republic of China and most markets where Groupe PSA is present, the one-ton pickup is crucial to the French automaker considering that the light commercial vehicle market represented 14 million vehicles worldwide in 2016. Of the total, the one-ton pickup segment makes up 18 percent of the 14 million LCVs, and yearly increase stands at 5 percent.
“This new product, which is complementary to the Peugeot pickup recently launched in Africa, is in line with the core model strategy of Groupe PSA and will support our come back on this growing market segment,” declared Patrice Lucas, EVP of Programs and Strategy. “It will contribute to achieve the objectives set for the Push to Pass plan regarding LCVs with a target to increase volumes by 30% by 2018 and triple overseas volumes by 2021.”
On a related note, the 2019 Ford Ranger is getting ready for its big reveal.
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