"No, there won't be one." When asked if Peugeot would unveil a vehicle to compete with the future €20,000 electric Volkswagen, the brand's new boss didn't hesitate. The Lion brand does not want and has no intention of marketing a "cheap" electric car, at least not one cheaper than its current e-208. Here's an explanation.
Almost 100 days to the day after his official appointment as head of Peugeot, replacing Carlos Tavares, the new CEO of the Lion brand, Alain Favey, agreed to answer our questions, as well as those of our colleagues, during a roundtable discussion organized on the sidelines of the tests of the new e-3008 and e-5008 Dual Motor. The new boss discussed the brand's current affairs and economic health, its place within the Stellantis galaxy, and its future, particularly its electric future.
No €20,000 electric Peugeot
"We don't have any such plan. We think the right level to start with, with a model that really allows for decent roominess and range, is to start at the e-208 level. So we will have a new e-208, a new model that will be released in 2027 and we think that this is the right price level in terms of service for our customers, so no, we will not be at 20,000 euros," explained Alain Faveau.
Currently, the price of the electric Peugeot e-208 starts at 28,000 euros, from which the ecological bonus can be deducted.
Asked whether it was more the price or the size of the small city car that was holding back the development of such an offer, the new CEO of Peugeot was clear: "I think it's both, on a city car, you cannot ignore the price. You have to find a compromise between the size of the car, comfort, equipment, habitability and then the price. We, very clearly, cannot have a car at 20,000 euros that meets the criteria we have set for ourselves."
The 20,000 euro car reserved for Citroën and Fiat?
"For us, for Peugeot, this is not the path we have chosen." With this last statement, Alain Favey explains that there is also, behind Peugeot's choice, a group logic. At Stellantis, Peugeot is not intended to be behind the entry-level range; this role is assigned to Fiat and Citroën. "It's a choice within the group to position the brands differently, and we think that it's not Peugeot's role to cover this part of the market," he concluded.
While the platform exists at Stellantis and Citroën with its C3 or even Fiat, a little later, should seize it to offer small electric city cars at 20,000 euros, Peugeot has therefore decided to do without this lever and continue to focus on a more premium positioning.
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