From 2023, the Stellantis group will reorganize the production of its city cars, resulting in the transfer of the Peugeot e-208 to Spain alongside the Opel Corsa. The Trnava site in Slovakia will be dedicated to the “Smart Cars” program, started with the new Citroën C3.
A commotion in the factories manufacturing the city cars of the Stellantis group. From 2023, the electric version of the Peugeot 208 will no longer be produced in Trnava, in Slovakia, but in the Opel factory in Zaragoza, Spain, where its technical cousin, the Corsa, is already assembled. This change of creamery will occur at the time of the restyling of the French. As for the thermal versions, they will be 100% manufactured in Kenitra, the Moroccan site producing until today the entry and mid-range finishes.
Why such a change ?
The reason is linked to the “Smart Cars” program, which aims to develop a whole range of models on the new “CMP entry” technical basis; a platform designed mainly in India by the company TCS, owned by the Tata group. Inaugurated this year by the new Brazilian and Indian Citroën C3s, CMP entry will be adapted in terms of its services for the European market. According to our information, PSA has decided to award this program to the Trnava site, which will be responsible in 2023 for producing the future European Citroën C3 (CC21), as well as the replacements for the Citroën C3 Aircross (CC24) and Opel Crossland (OV24) in 2024. Fiat will also use this low-cost platform for the future Multipla SUV in 2024 and Panda in 2025. The group’s city cars will be offered with the 1.2 l PureTech engine, as well as in two “accessible” electric versions powered by a battery from the Chinese manufacturer Svolt. The latter, moreover, will set up in southern Germany near Trnava.
Future Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208 100% electric
The Peugeot e-208 will be a joint factory with the Opel Corsa.
The Zaragoza site, meanwhile, will produce the next generations of Opel Corsa (OV31) and Peugeot 208 (P31) from 2026. These models, which will be based on the new STLA Small platform, will be 100% electric. And for good reason : Opel will become a “zero emission” brand in 2028 and Peugeot in 2030. Nevertheless, the French manufacturer will not put all its eggs in one basket and will continue to display in its catalog a thermal city car with light hybridization. This variation will not be based on the third generation of the 208 but on the current version, which will therefore play extensions like the 206+ and 207+ in their time. Coming from Morocco, this “208+” will allow the Lion to offer an entry-level price for customers who cannot afford to switch to electric.
TO READ. French cars: are they still made in France?
