PSA Peugeot Citröen today rolled out the 5000th electric car, a white Citroën Saxo, produced at the Heuliez assembly plant in Cerizay, France. Since series production began in September 1995, the Heuliez plant has produced 2,200 electric versions of the Citroën AX and Saxo and 2,800 electric versions of the Peugeot 106, in 3 or 5-door passenger car and commercial models.

The plant also produced 25 Peugeot 106s and 25 Citroën Saxos, which were delivered to the city of La Rochelle in September 1999. The vehicles constitute the first fleet of self-service EVs made available to residents on a subscription basis, as part of the Liselec program.

As the majority of EV sales are to business and government fleets, PSA Peugeot Citröen decided to broaden its offer in 1998 to include electric versions of the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo commercial vehicles. Both are manufactured at the Group’s plant in Vigo, Spain on the same assembly lines as combustion-engine models.

Since the first electric car was introduced in November 1995, PSA Peugeot Citroën has sold nearly 6,000 units in Europe, where it holds the leadership position in a total market of 9,000 vehicles. The Group is also the world’s leading manufacturer of electric cars.

Its customers in France include Electricité de France, La Poste, Aéroports de Paris, and a number of cities including Paris, La Rochelle and Lyon.

(May 17, 2000)