Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Which French Automaker Will Return To The US First?

Place your bets.

If you've been paying any attention to the news, you've probably heard about French automaker PSA Group and its planned return to the US market. PSA Group is responsible for building Peugeot, DS, and Citroen vehicles as well as Opel and Vauxhall vehicles after purchasing the brands from General Motors. Recently, PSA has been contemplating a return to the US market, and now Automotive News reports that the French automaker is currently on track to sell cars once again in the US.

Company CEO Carlos Tavares says "We are on time with our push to America. First, we are now implementing a certain number of operations for our mobility services. For our Free2Move mobility service plan, which is now ongoing, it is important for us to get closer to US consumers so that we can understand their behaviors and expectations so that we can come up with solutions that will make them happy."

After implementing the mobility service, PSA plans to sell cars in the US by 2026. Unfortunately, PSA still doesn't know which of its brands to bring to the US. DS makes some sense because the brand sells multiple crossovers and hybrid vehicles, though Opel and Vauxhall could be interesting choices as well. The US already receives the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia in the form of the Buick Regal, so it could be an easy transition for PSA.

Peugeot last pulled out of the US market in 1991, so the company wants to make sure it is back for good this time. This will involve a long-term investment in a dealership network and careful planning. We expect electrification to play a huge role in PSA's US lineup when it finally arrives. The new DS 7 Crossback E-Tense is a stylish plug-in hybrid SUV with 300 horsepower and a 31-mile electric range - exactly the type of vehicle US consumers would love. We are still about seven years away from seeing French vehicles on US roads, though we may soon start to hear some announcements about what cars will be coming in the next few years.

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