Photo: Peugeot via Facebook
After just being crowned the European Car of the Year, Peugeot has yet more great news about its new 308 compact hatchback. Freshly launched across all major markets, the car is proving so popular that the company is finding it has to hire people to keep up with demand.
600 people will be added to the workforce, 450 of them under temporary contract, in order to add a night shift at the Sochaux factory in France where assembly takes place. This marks a turning point for the country's second largest car company, which in the past has had to fire over 11,000 of its workers in order to reduce their losses.
Going from huge overcapacity to the inability to meet demand is a great sign for the 308 and Peugeot in general, who might soon hit pay dirt with the first profits in many years. But before that can happen, the French company should apply what it's learned with the 308 to other lucrative niches.
The 308 was voted 2014 Car Of the Year in Geneva just over a week ago, winning more sympathizers than either the BMW i3 or the Tesla Model S. Its conventional hatchback design belies comprehensive changes in design, engineering and the niche it targets. To name but a few of the features, it comes with standard LED taillights, a lightweight new platform and a minimalist interior decluttered of buttons and knobs.
The Sochaux factory that makes it is the e site of a large industrial facility located close to the border with Switzerland. As a hub of PSA's manufacturing capabilities it currently employs over 10,000 people and makes the 308, 508, 3008 and the Citroen DS5. Peugeot has said it has 60,000 orders for its 308, which is not a huge number in itself, but still more than the company expected.
Going from huge overcapacity to the inability to meet demand is a great sign for the 308 and Peugeot in general, who might soon hit pay dirt with the first profits in many years. But before that can happen, the French company should apply what it's learned with the 308 to other lucrative niches.
The 308 was voted 2014 Car Of the Year in Geneva just over a week ago, winning more sympathizers than either the BMW i3 or the Tesla Model S. Its conventional hatchback design belies comprehensive changes in design, engineering and the niche it targets. To name but a few of the features, it comes with standard LED taillights, a lightweight new platform and a minimalist interior decluttered of buttons and knobs.
The Sochaux factory that makes it is the e site of a large industrial facility located close to the border with Switzerland. As a hub of PSA's manufacturing capabilities it currently employs over 10,000 people and makes the 308, 508, 3008 and the Citroen DS5. Peugeot has said it has 60,000 orders for its 308, which is not a huge number in itself, but still more than the company expected.
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