PSA Record 2000 Sales

• 2,816,000 Vehicles Sold in 2000
• A Sales Increase of 11.7% in 2000 and 34% over the past three years
• 2001 Target: 3,000,000 Vehicles
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PSA Peugeot Citroën has exceeded its sales target of 2,700,000 vehicles for 2000, with 2,816,000 units sold worldwide during the year. In a global market up by around 4%, the performance represented a 11.7% increase from the 2,520,000 units sold in 1999 and built on prior year gains of 10.4% in 1999 and 8.7% in 1998.

PSA Peugeot Citroën, the sixth-largest car manufacturer in the world, accounts for more than 5% of the global market.

Citroën reported record sales for the fourth year in a row, while Peugeot has seen sales grow by 40% over the past three years.

Highlights of the year

In Europe, PSA Peugeot Citroën consolidated its position as one of the top two manufacturers of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, widening its share of the market to 13.7% from 12.7% in 1999. Registrations totaled 2,300,000, up 7% in a market down by 1.2%.

The Group confirmed its European market leadership in the commercial segment, with registrations increasing 10% to a total of 350,000, and a market share of 18.2%.

The Group also strengthened its position as Europe's second-largest manufacturer of passenger cars, with registrations up 6% to 1,937,000 vehicles, and a market share of 13.1%.

Successes of the year

The Peugeot 206 remained as popular as ever, as sales rose by 30% to 718,000 units even before the coupe-cabriolet was introduced. Sales of the Citroën Xsara Picasso and Xsara sedan gained 50%, while the Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Partner enjoyed sustained growth, with sales rising 16% to 272,300 units.

The availability of the new high pressure direct injection (HDI) diesel engine in nearly all models helped the Group respond to the sustained growth in European demand for diesel-powered cars. Today, Peugeot and Citroën diesel engines account for 49% of the Group's sales. Some 720,000 HDI-equipped cars were sold in 2000, double the amount in 1999. Output is scheduled to rise to more than a million in 2001.

During the year, the Peugeot and Citroën marques were certified to ISO 9001, version 2000, standards, thereby earning international recognition for their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

European markets

A total of 2,300,000 PSA Peugeot Citroën cars and commercial vehicles were registered in Western Europe in 2000, an increase of 7%. The Group's market share rose in all major Western European countries, driving an aggregate one-point increase in the 17-country region.

In France, where the Group is market leader with a 31.8% share, registrations rose by more than 6% in the market.

Sales rose by 2.5% in Spain, where PSA Peugeot Citroën is number one with a market share of 22.4%. Citroën, the second-ranked marque, set a new sales record with 207,000 units registered. The Xsara was the country's best-selling car; the Berlingo, the best-selling commercial vehicle.

In the United Kingdom, PSA Peugeot Citroën is the third-ranked carmaker, with a market share of 12.4% and sales growth of 8.9%. Peugeot set a record with 202,200 registrations, while sales by the Citroën marque climbed by 19%.

Markets outside Western Europe

Sales outside Western Europe rose by 33% to 481,000 units, including 324,000 Peugeot vehicles and 157,000 Citroën vehicles. They accounted for 17% of the consolidated total.

The Mercosur countries experienced contrasting trends during the year, but PSA Peugeot Citroën sales continued to grow, rising 8.5% overall for a market share of close to 4.5%. Some 77,000 units were sold, including 63,000 Peugeot vehicles and 14,000 Citroën vehicles. Registrations were up 2% in Argentina, where the market shrank by more than 20%, and 24% in Brazil, where demand grew by 15%. To support its regional development, on February 1 the Group will inaugurate the Porto Real manufacturing center in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will produce Peugeot 206s and Citroën Xsara Picassos.

Sales grew by 16.4% to 104,500 units in Central Europe. The Peugeot marque performed particularly well, especially in Poland, where sales rose by 8% to 20,100 units in a market down by 25%. Citroën's market share in Eastern Europe increased to 3.4% from 2.7%, despite generally weaker demand.

In Turkey, where the market expanded by a remarkable 63%, PSA Peugeot Citroën more than doubled its sales to around 40,000 vehicles last year, versus 19,000 in 1999.

Peugeot reported strong growth in CKD billings on volume in Iran, which rose from 10,800 units in 1999 to 44,200 in 2000.

Citroën registrations were up 17% to 52,000 in China, for a market share of 9%.

In Japan, PSA Peugeot Citroën posted impressive growth of 50.3% to 11,800 units in a flat market. The chief beneficiary was Peugeot, which now manages all of its own import and distribution operations. The marque's share of the import market grew to 4.3%, versus 2.9% in 1999.

Outlook for 2001: 3,000,000 vehicles

In 2001, the European market is expected to remain as buoyant as it has been since 1999. The Group will maintain its growth momentum with the launch of a series of new models. PSA Peugeot Citroën has set a 2001 sales target of 3,000,000 vehicles, or growth of 6.3%.

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PSA Peugeot Citroën
Worldwide sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles

 (Jan. 4, 2001)