PSA Peugeot Citroen announced that its new car plant in China, jointly established with Dongfeng Motor Corporation, will be put into operation in 2009, according to Tuesday's Shanghai Securities News.

 

Located next to the present Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co. in central China's Wuhan, the construction of the new car plant will begin at the end of 2006.

 

The annual manufacturing capacity of the new plant is expected to reach 150,000, mainly focusing on the manufacturing of high-grade sedans.

 

Statistics show that in the first half of 2006, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co. sold 100,200 units in China, up 38 percent on last year.

 

A senior official with the corporation said in a previous statement that the corporation has a share of about five percent of China's auto market, noting that the corporation will benefit greatly from the future development of China's auto sector.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2006)