PEUGEOT - background & news

Peugeot Environmental Protection Credentials

Peugeot Citroën (PSA) currently employs a wide range of environmental technologies including diesel-hybrid and electric powertrains on a number of models, and have recently committed to downsizing – introducing a family of three-cylinder petrol engines.

PSA has also invested significant resources into the recyclability of its cars, and the new 208 should be made from 30% green polymers by 2015 (up from 23% currently). The company’s supply chain is also put under scrutiny, with lorry drivers receiving training on fuel-efficient driving in modern machinery.

Early in 2013, PSA unveiled Hybrid Air – a powertrain that uses petrol and compressed air to increase vehicle efficiency and reduce ownership costs. With the potential for all-electric driving in urban areas and carbon dioxide emissions as low as 69g/km at higher speeds, Hybrid Air is one of the most exciting environmental innovations in recent history. PSA aim to have the technology fitted to its B-segment models by 2016.

Manufacturer History

Peugeot, part of PSA Peugeot Citroen, is Europe's second biggest motor manufacturer, after Volkswagen. Headquartered in Paris, the company originally hails from Sochaux, France, where it began business producing bicycles in the 19th Century. In 1926, the company sold this business to concentrate on car production, but Peugeot cycles continue to be produced in France. During the First World War, Peugeot turned to arms production, becoming a major manufacturer of arms and military vehicles. The first Peugeot automobile, a three-wheeled steam-powered car of which only four was made, was launched in 1889. In 1890, Peugeot decided to work on a four-wheeled car with a petrol-fuelled internal combustion engine built by Panhard. The car was more sophisticated than many of its contemporaries, with a sliding-gear transmission and a three-point. In 1975, Peugeot took over Citroen after the French government gave a lot of money to support the new company. Thus, the PSA group was born, but both involved parties decided to keep separate the two brands even if they were sharing the same engineering and technical resources. Peugeot has always been a highly innovative company. It was amongst the earliest auto manufacturers to equip its cars with pneumatic tyres. It has also had considerable success in international rallying, especially in the World Rally Championship with the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, and more recently the Peugeot 206. In the 1990s, the company participated in the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race where it won with the 905 in 1992 and1993. This year it won with the 908 HDI FAP. Peugeot’s range spans from small urban cars like the 107 or the 207, the compact 308, the saloon 407, also available in wagon, to the four-wheel-drive 4007. Despite its popularity with cars, Peugeot produces vans like the Boxer and MPVs like the 807 or the more recent 3008.