Peugeot sales climbed 7.9% to 601,000 units, led mainly by the Peugeot 2008 (up 16%, or 99,900 units) and Partner (up 8%, or 62,800 units), which were both ranked no. 2 in their respective segments in Europe.
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The 208 and 308 models continued to advance, up 15% (157,800 units) and 10% (119,200 units), respectively. Sales of the brand were particularly impressive in Italy (up 17.4%), Spain (up 12.5%) and the Netherlands (up 8.8%).
This performance will be buoyed in the second half of the year by various new product innovations, including the new Peugeot 2008 SUV and 3008, and the new Peugeot Traveller and Expert.
Citroën delivered its best sales performance for five years, advancing 7.2% to 414,000 units. Its strong showing was powered chiefly by the C4 Picasso, the leading MPV in Europe, but also by the C4 Cactus and the C1, which each reported sales growth for the period.
In the market for light commercial vehicles, the Berlingo also consolidated its success as leader of its segment. These solid performances enabled the brand to gain ground in its biggest markets (United Kingdom, Spain and Germany).
The momentum should accelerate in the second half, driven by the new C4 Picasso, the new Jumpy, the SpaceTourer and the new C3, which will replace the brand's current best seller in the autumn.
Sales for the DS brand rose 0.7% to 40,900 units, with the new DS 3 and the new DS 3 Cabrio launched in March completing the brand's entirely revisited line-up.
The DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback were highly successful, with the Crossback representing 28% of total sales from these two compact premium models thanks to its strong customer appeal. The brand continues to expand its dealer network, which included 21 DS Stores and 86 DS Salons in Europe at the end of June.
In the fast-changing China & Southeast Asia market, PSA Group sales were down 19.4% to 297,000 units.
Following the arrival of the DS 4S sedan at the end of April, the Group is preparing a marketing offensive in the second half of 2016 which will see it launch five SUVs in the next two years.
As part of its Blue Upper plan, the Peugeot brand is planning to launch 18 new models in China by 2020 and, before the end of 2016, revisit the 308 Sedan and the 3008, two of its three best sellers in the world's biggest market.
The Citroën C3-XR SUV consolidated its success, with sales surging 35%. The new Citroën C6 and C4 L models will be launched in the second half of the year.
To partner growth in the SUV market segment, the PSA Group will inaugurate a new plant in Chengdu in September 2016. The Group's Shenzhen facility already manufactures the DS 6 SUV, the DS brand's best-selling model in China.
The Middle East & Africa region had to contend with an unfavourable economic climate in the first half of 2016, with imports suspended and then subject to quotas in Algeria and restrictions placed on currency access in certain countries (Egypt and Tunisia). This situation weighed heavily on the Group's sales in the region, which fell 13.3%.
The Group prepared for its return to Iran, signing a joint venture agreement in June with Iran Khodro, a long-standing Peugeot partner. The DS brand was also launched in the country at the beginning of the year, in cooperation with a private investor.
In Latin America, the PSA Group strengthened its positions, with sales up 16.4% to 88,800 units in a market down by 8.2%. The Group reported its biggest-ever market share in Chile, at over 7%.
Peugeot saw sales surge 26%, powered by excellent performances in Argentina (up 45%), Chile (up 38%) and Brazil (up 2%) in a sharply declining market (down 25%). The brand capitalised on its latest product launches: the 2008 and the new 208.
Citroën maintained its positions during the first half of the year with impressive advances in Argentina (up 29%) and Chile (up 55%). After a successful launch in Brazil, the new Citroën C3 Aircross is now sold in Argentina and helped drive the brand's good performance.
In Eurasia, despite a sharply deteriorated economic environment and a declining market, particularly in Russia (down 14.7%), the PSA Group saw its sales stabilise (down 0.1%) and continued to focus on its margins.
The Group's performance in India-Pacific was led by the Japanese market, which accounted for 49% of the Group's sales in the region. The launch of the Citroën C4 Cactus and diesel models in Japan will be instrumental in helping to boost the Group's positions in the region. ■