A statement issued by the group today revealed its intention to diversify its technological offering with plug-in hybrid petrol engines and next-generation electric powertrains with a future electric platform developed in partnership with Dongfeng Motors. To meet growing demand for petrol engines, PSA Group also plans to double production, in France, of its 3-cylinder EB Turbo PureTech petrol engine, by 2019. Gilles Le Borgne, PSA Group’s executive vice-president, research and development, said: “We will be launching an unprecedented technological offensive as part of the Push to Pass plan, to provide our customers with an attractive offering of sustainable mobility solutions and maintain our lead in terms of pollutant emissions reduction, with seven plug-in hybrids and four other new electric vehicles scheduled for launch by 2021, in addition to our flagship engine models.” PSA Group said that it will manufacture its main electric powertrain components in France “for strategic reasons”. The electric powertrain will be produced at the Trémery/Metz centre of excellence, while the gear systems will be manufactured at the Valenciennes plant. PSA Group has also decided to fit its plug-in hybrid petrol vehicles with engines produced at the Française de Mécanique facility in Douvrin, France. The Douvrin and Trémery plants will produce 350,000 additional turbo petrol engines in 2018, lifting potential output to 670,000 units. In addition, PSA Group will install an EB module at its plant in Trnava, Slovakia, in 2019.
The PSA Group it is planning to release seven plug-in hybrids and four other new electric vehicles scheduled for launch by 2021 alongside further doubling the production of their petrol engines. It will also invest in a battery plant at its factory near Birmingham which could double capacity from current levels within five years.