Groupe PSA or Peugeot Citroen as they are more commonly known has announced that it aims to have a local partner in India by 2018 and then get its cars on the road by 2021. This was announced by its Chariman Carlos Tavares during the presentation of their ‘Push To Pass’ growth plan.
As a part of this plan, it aims to have a local partner and in all probability produce vehicles at a facility in the country. Reports suggest that it is in talks with Tata Motors to do the same.
The automaker as a part of the new plan has created an India-Pacific zone which comprises India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and other SAARC countries. It is currently the only one without a manufacturing unit and the company aims to change this by 2021. This plan includes 17 vehicles all of which are expected to have a significant amount of local content to make them cost effective.
This would be their third attempt to break into India. It had come to the country in the mid-90s, teamed up with the Premier Group and even sold the 309 for a few years. However, various issues forced it to exit the JV by 1997. It made a second attempt in 2011 but was again forced to cancel its entry after facing severe financial woes.
