Stellantis wants to continue producing in France, but under certain conditions. The group resulting from the merger between PSA and FCA wants to repatriate the production of one of its best sellers in Europe, the Peugeot 208.
The versatile city car is currently produced in Trnava, Slovakia. At a time considered in Spain, the production of its electric version, the e-208, could finally take the path of France, indicates the newspaper HE echoes.
The Poissy site well located for the e-208
The decision is expected next November and discussions continue regarding the subsidies that the automotive group could receive with this operation.
“It is a matter of a lot of money and the State is thinking about possible subsidies to convince Carlos Tavares to move his model to France,” a government source told the economic daily.
The electric 208 could be produced at the Poissy (Yvelines) plant, which already assembles two models based on the same platform, the Opel Mokka and the DS3 Crossback
The Rennes plant awaits answers for its future
At the same time, at the Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) plant, Stellantis confirmed on Thursday an investment of 160 million euros to produce a 100% electric midsize SUV starting in 2025. A highly anticipated model that will be based on one of the future platforms common to all brands, “STLA Medium”.
This investment is aimed, in particular, at “setting up a battery assembly workshop and another, dedicated to plastic injection, the first in a French factory in Stellantis”, also underlines the group’s press release.
The vehicle, codenamed “CR3”, will succeed the Citroën C5 Aircross, one of two models currently produced in Rennes. The other, the Peugeot 5008, could also see its next generation converted to electric sharing the same “STLA Medium” platform.
Note that on these models, the Rennes site would maintain production of thermal and hybrid versions, on existing platforms, pending the switch to 100% electric planned for 2030 at the latest at group level.
But the unions await confirmation of a second vehicle produced at the site from 2025. From Stellantis:
“To this question (of a second model), Carlos Tavares explained to us that the Rennes venue had advantages, in particular its mastery of quality, but… Hey, there is always a ‘but’. The economic results are not up to par with the other sites in the group, especially in Spain”.
Even if it wants to review the production of small models in the national territory, the union is also skeptical about the possibility of the e-208 ever being assembled in France.
The end of production in Slovakia is effectively scheduled for next July and it would be, for now, the Spanish factory in Zaragoza that would take over. Site where the production of the Opel Corsa-e, cousin of the 208, is already assured.
Source: BFM TV
