Peugeot 408 Goes on Sale in China

After the static presentation to the press and the dealer network that took place in Beijing on January 25, in front of a public of 1,700 guests, Peugeot announced today the commercial launch in China of the 408. Derived from the 308, the 408 is seen by Peugeot as an essential car for the strategic expansion of the brand in China, now the largest automotive market in the world, the French company setting a sales target of 100,000 units per year.

To date, the Peugeot network in China has received more than 30,000 pre-reservations for the 408. The carmaker's sales network in the largest market of the world includes 287 sales outlets, spread over more than 207 Chinese cities and urban areas.

The 408 belongs to the “M1 Premium” segment, which is part of the M1, the most important segment of the market, covering more than 40% of the passenger car sales in China. The 408 sedan is the result of the first phase of a range construction policy, aiming at offering cars suited especially for the Chinese market and at diversifying Peugeot's offer. Over the next five years, the French company will launch a new model every year in China, in order to keep with the pace of expected growth of the market.

The 408 will be available with two engines across the range: a 1.6-liter 16V unit that develops 110 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 147 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm plus a 2.0-liter configuration sporting 147 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque. In the press release, Peugeot underlines the fact that the 408 meets the highest standards of quality, a necessary fact in the very demanding and highly competitive environment of the Chinese market.