Peugeot to capture market with 408 X

The Peugeot 408 X made its Chinese premiere on Thursday, as the latest effort of the French brand to explore the world's largest vehicle market.

The model for the Chinese market is made by Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen, a joint venture between State-owned Dongfeng and Stellantis.

The 408 X stands out for its dynamic fastback silhouette and its unmistakable feline stance, which is typical of the Peugeot brand.

The grille blends in perfectly with the front end, of which the centerpiece is the new logo with the head of a lion.

The model adopts the new-generation 3D i-Cockpit, which is divided into functional zones with sharp lines. It boasts a 10.25-inch LCD dashboard and two touch screens.

Gregoire Olivier, chief operating officer of Stellantis China, said the 408 X represents the latest result of deepening cooperation with Dongfeng.

He said the model is also a landmark for the French brand's renewal efforts in China, which he said has gone through "ups and downs" in the country over the decades.

Olivier said Stellantis and Dongfeng will offer deeper support for the joint venture in terms of products, technology and marketing, as well as brand development to realize its rejuvenation in the fast-changing Chinese market.

Among other things, the two companies will speed up efforts to introduce electric vehicles through the joint venture from 2023 and export China-made vehicles to overseas markets.

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen sold 127,000 vehicles in China in 2022, up 30 percent year-on-year. The company expects its sales to hit 155,000 units in 2023.