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Groupe PSA ended 2019 on a positive note as it contributed €4.4 billion to France’s trade balance, aggregating about €25 billion to the country’s economy in the past five years.
Worthy of note is the fact that One-third of French automotive exports are Groupe PSA models with UK, Italy and Spain representing the three largest markets as the Group produces more vehicles in France than in any other country.
Fifteen models are manufactured in France, including high value-added models.
Excited at the results, Carlos Tavares, Chairman of Groupe PSA’s Managing Board, said, “Groupe PSA continues to have strong roots in France and we are proud to make another positive contribution to our country’s trade balance, generating an aggregate €25 billion in five years.”
According to Tavares, “The surplus is the result of our teams’ daily commitment to developing attractive vehicles and ensuring that our French plants are competitive in a challenging economic environment, while also contributing to the energy transition.”
In 2019, the Group manufactured 1,226,000 cars in France, representing 36 per cent of its global production output. At stake: net exports of 379,000 vehicles, up 5 per cent when compared to 2018, allowing the Group to make a €4.4 billion positive contribution to France’s trade balance.
In contrast, the French automotive industry has been a negative contributor since 2008, with its performance falling further in 2019 to a negative €15.3 billion.
Fifteen of the Group’s models – ranging from compact city cars (B segment) to light commercial vehicles – were manufactured in France at five assembly facilities for the domestic market (33 per cent) and for export to the rest of Europe and beyond (67 per cent) .
The Group manufactures its high value-added models at its plants in France, with the DS 3 Crossback produced in Poissy, the DS 7 Crossback in Mulhouse, the PEUGEOT 3008 and 5008 in Sochaux and the Citroën C5 Aircross and PEUGEOT 5008 in Rennes.
In addition, Groupe PSA is investing in its powertrain plants based in France, with a view to supporting the energy transition. This investment involves for example the manufacture of electric motors at Tremery, electrified powertrain gear reducers at Valenciennes, and soon the transmissions for electrified powertrains at Metz.
Through its partnership with Total/Saft, Groupe PSA has also undertaken a battery manufacture project in France.
With its deep roots in the French regions (Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Bretagne, Ile de France, Hauts-de-France, Grand Est and Bourgogne Franche-Comté), the Group leverages the expertise of 51,000 employees (Automotive division excluding Faurecia), representing 44 per cent of the global workforce.
