Stellantis will use factory in RJ to recover potential of Peugeot and Citroën in Brazil

The priority is to expand Peugeot and Citroën sales in the country, to maintain the pattern that is currently led by Fiat. Stellantis will bet on an already known model from Citroën to take the first step in the operation of the factory in RJ

The automotive group Stellantis is planning to boost sales of Peugeot and Citroën vehicles in Brazil, using the factory in RJ as a central point, since for years the two brands have faced many difficulties in expanding their participation in the country, even after the group that formed in 2021 and ended the year as sales leader across South America.

Read also

• Solar energy: Goiânia City Hall holds public hearing on renewable energies and energy compensation system
• Information technology (IT) professionals can apply for jobs at Capgemini in São Paulo, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro
• Newly discovered lithium reserves in Minas Gerais cause a “Boom” in the international market
• With ANP approval, Enauta takes over the entire operation at the Atlanta Field and plans to double oil production capacity
• Paraná ports are examples in the port sector in relation to environmental commitment

Stellantis claims to have plans for a factory in RJ

Stellantis, whose name means “shining with the stars”, was born through the merger of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler with the French automotive group PSA, of which the Peugeot and Citroën brands are part. The current formation of the automotive group inherited the Porto Real factory, located in RJ, which is responsible for manufacturing Peugeot and Citroën cars, including the engine lineage.

The factory has the capacity to assemble 150 vehicles per year. However, both brands ended 2021 with sales of around 52,9 vehicles only, according to information provided by the National Federation of Automotive Vehicle Distribution, Fenabrave.

CONSTRUCTION – FREE MARKET

According to the president of Stellantis for South America, Antonio Filosa, this Friday (7), the factory located in Porto Real, RJ, is underutilized, but Stellantis intends to put into operation one of the main launches of the group, the Citroën C3 model. Filosa is hopeful that the Citroën C3 will quickly saturate the factory. The President of Stellantis did not give further details regarding investments and minimized any disclosure related to the group's results.

Peugeot and Citroën ended 2021 at a low in the Brazilian market, behind an important group companion, Fiat

With a high share increase to almost 22% in the Brazilian market, Fiat, one of the main brands of Stellantis, ended the year 2021 as the brand that made Stellantis the leader in sales in Latin America, unlike Peugeot and Citroën, whose sales in the country were around 1,5% each, well below what was expected.

Filosa spoke a little more about the factory in RJ, where it is estimated that growth will be much more expressive. The president of Stellantis also spoke about the launches of Fiat, in Betim/MG and Jeep, in Goiana/PE, where they were successful. The group believes that, if the success is repeated in the launches of Peugeot and Citroën in Porto Real, it will be great news for the group.

sales estimates

In December of last year, the president of Stellantis had estimated that the Brazilian vehicle market had no reason not to have sales of at least 2,4 million to 2,45 million units. But in an interview on Friday (7), Filosa reported that, given the impacts of the Ômicron variant of the Coronavirus, it is necessary to reassess the estimates, and ended by saying that the wish was for this new wave to be faster.

According to the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Anfavea, it is estimated that sales of light vehicles in the country will increase by around 8,4% this year.