Peugeot begins production in China of its first model exclusive to the country

We have already mentioned on more than one occasion that brands are willing to make the Chinese market something apart, with some models that can only be found there. Peugeot has started a series of agreements with Dongfeng Group to manufacture a number of models together. They will be sold under the DPCA brand, and the first of these models is already in production.

This past 2 March, production began of the Dongfeng Fengshen L60, a C-segment saloon destined to be the bridgehead of PSA Peugeot Citroën in this exclusive and demanding Asian market. They not only aim to establish a strong presence in China, but it will also serve as an entry point into other countries in the region, which share tastes and preferences with the Chinese.

This model is based on the same PSA PF2 platform used by the Peugeot 408, which was manufactured in China and launched in August of last year. In terms of engines, two versions will be launched. The first features a 1.6-litre engine, capable of producing 115 CV and 150 Nm of maximum torque. The second powertrain is 1.8-litre and produces 137 CV and a maximum torque of 172 Nm. There are also reports that a 1.4-litre turbo version could be ready in the coming months.

The company DPCA sold 704,000 vehicles in the Asian region during 2013. With the arrival of this first vehicle born from the union of both brands, they expect this figure to double, and throughout this year sales are expected to rise to 1.5 million units.

Sales of this first model to come out of the factory of the company formed by the French and the Chinese will begin in the spring. Other models will follow, aimed at positioning the brand against its competitors.

Source | PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN