France's PSA, China's ChangAn to develop new pick-up by 2020

PARIS - PSA group, France's leading auto maker, announced on Wednesday an agreement with its Chinese partner ChangAn Automobile to jointly develop a new platform and a new one-ton pick up by 2020.

Following their cooperation accord already signed in June, the two partners agreed on a new vehicle platform to be implemented in Ding Zhou ChangAn plant, in north China's Hebei province, which dedicated to LCV s (light commercial vehicles).

At the first stage, the vehicle would be offered to Chinese customers and Groupe PSA overseas markets, the statement said.

According to Patrice Lucas, executive-vice president (EVP) of programs and strategy at Groupe PSA, "This new product... will contribute to achieve the objectives set for the Push to Pass plan regarding LCVs with a target to increase volumes by 30 percent by 2018 and triple overseas volumes by 2021."

For his turn, Mingxue Yuan, EVP Cooperation and Strategy of ChangAn said "This first common development for a new generation of one-ton pick-up is a great opportunity for both companies to hit markets in China and overseas. It is a strong milestone in a long term cooperation between Groupe PSA and ChangAn."