Peugeot CEO says no reason to exclude Korea from China joint-venture exports

French automaker Peugeot has left the door open to exporting vehicles produced through its newly established joint venture with China's Dongfeng to South Korea.

Peugeot brand CEO Alain Favey met with Korean journalists at the Paris Motor Show on Monday (local time) and said the joint venture would produce two new models — the first set for launch in China next year and the second planned for 2028.

"At the same time, we plan to export vehicles produced in China to other regions," Favey said, naming the Asia-Pacific region and South America among the targets. Asked whether Korea would be included, he said, "There is no reason not to."

Peugeot has worked with Wuhan-based Dongfeng for 34 years and established a new joint venture with the Chinese automaker this year. At the Beijing Motor Show in April, the two companies unveiled two concept cars previewing a large sedan and a large SUV, and announced plans to produce mass-market versions of both at a factory in Wuhan.

On the Korean market, Favey acknowledged that Peugeot's sales and market share there remain very low, but said he sees significant room for growth. "Korea is a very complex and difficult market," he said, "but we have great expectations that we will be able to grow the Peugeot brand there."

He said Peugeot is developing a Korea growth strategy together with Stellantis's Asia-Pacific organization, which oversees the conglomerate's regional operations.

Addressing concerns that Peugeot is falling behind on electrification, Favey said the brand would push forward with a "multi-energy" strategy — offering each model in both electric and internal-combustion versions so customers can choose their preferred powertrain.

He also said the new Peugeot 208, due next year, will be the first model to adopt the electric vehicle platform STLA One, which he said would cut production costs per vehicle by 20 percent.

Alongside the electric version of the new 208, Peugeot will continue selling the current 208 hybrid. "As long as there is demand for hybrid vehicles, we will keep offering both options," Favey said. "If demand continues beyond 2030, we will keep producing the hybrid version."

Meanwhile, Peugeot set up a 1,300-square-meter booth at the Paris Motor Show and unveiled two concept cars: the E-T16 Concept and the RCZ Vision.

The E-T16 Concept marks the 40th anniversary of the 205 T16, which won the World Rally Championship in consecutive years in 1985 and 1986, reimagining one of French automotive history's icons for the electric era. The RCZ Vision is a successor to the RCZ coupe and represents the most complete expression of Peugeot's "Féline Future" design language, presenting a vision of elegance, simplicity and emotion for the brand's future.