Unless you live in a cave (which is a distinct possibility with a few of our readers, no offense intended) you’ve undoubtedly heard that PSA (Peugeot, Citroen, DS) is planning to return to the US. The latest plan is to start selling cars in 16 select states in 2026. Those states have been chosen because they’re “import friendly” (California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Maryland). So you Midwestern folks are left out, for the time being.
It’s still eight years away, so it’s a bit of an abstraction, but would you consider buying a new PSA car when they become available? Do you think PSA can break into this very competitive market?
I have my doubts. It’s hard for me to see what unique selling proposition PSA can come up with, recognizing of course that by 2026, it will not be the current products, like this 3008 CUV above. It looks and seems competitive, but that doesn’t exactly spell success. Both Hyundai and Kia have lost their momentum and market share in the past couple of years. VW is losing hundreds of millions in the US, and is having to spend many billions to create America-specific products, like the Japanese did years ago. The American market requires scale to succeed in the mass market, so it’s a bit hard for me to see how PSA is going to pull that off.
Yes, I loved the classic Peugeots of yore, but that was decades ago. Now they’re pretty much like any other car, as far as I can tell, although maybe some of their more unusual products like the Cactus might have appeal, although it’s lost its distinctive side cladding.
If you’re European, I’d be interested to hear what you think makes PSA products attractive, and which ones might be of interest to Americans.
What happens when you have a break-down in a state that is not covered?
They are pretty highly rated vehicles in Europe these days but still if there were an emergency what would you do?
That was my first thought, that you could only buy one if you never drive out of state.
As mentioned above, PSA just absorbed Vauxhall/Opel. If GM couldn’t make these brands work, I think PSA’s first priority is to sort out this mess.
Don’t compound the calamity by coming to North America. I have a feeling that this is more of an ego trip, not a true expansion of market.
I can’t comment on whether I’d be interested in one of their products, not knowing a whole lot about them, but I think keeping a close eye on what goes on with Alfa Romeo over the next few years will be very telling as a litmus test for what PSA might realistically achieve here.
Alfa’s products have long been considered niche vehicles in the US, have had a long history of perceived questionable value among American consumers, were gone from the market here for a couple decades before returning, and while maybe a notch above PSA in pricing structure, are still looked at with suspicion among “average consumers” here.
By the time 2026 arrives, I’ll probably no longer be a automobile driver; as far as I’m concerned PSA irrelevant. The only French car I have owned was a Renault Encore and after that experience I do not want another French car. Based on my experience their quality is inferior to most domestic products not to mention Japanese vehicles. To have any chance of success, they are going to need an effective dealer and parts network on day one. French cars have never been terribly successful in the US due to questionable styling and perceived quality.
I just got back from a week’s business trip in Paris, and I have to say that both the larger Peugeot and Renault wagons I saw were absolutely stunning, and had manual transmissions to boot! I can’t say anything about reliability, performance, etc., of course, but visually wonderful vehicles. I’d think about it, for sure…
The Peugeot 508 (previous generation) and Renault Talisman, I suppose.
Those are D-segment cars (mid-sizers); mainstream automakers -like Renault and Peugeot- don’t build anything bigger anymore. If you think away the high-towers, as shown in the article.
Almost all D-segment sedans/hatchbacks are also offered as wagon.
I can see Maryland and VA would be on this list. There seems to be many new dealers opening around here. There is an uptick of Maserati products all around the Maryland area. Up until 2017, the only Maseratis I saw were a few TC by Maserati and some poor bastard trying to nurse a BiTurbo( Italian for shitty car)
I have seen a couple of Mexican plated Peugeots around my way. All the way from Mexico City. The van looked pretty nice.
I will look at these cars with an open mind. I know that in the in the past French cars mimicked their French owners in that they only wanted to work 3 times a week.
I hope they do better then Fiat has been doing. In a way it is sad that Fiat is not doing so well. I like the 500 and enjoy having it as a rental car.
No
Peugeot and Citroen will have to cling remora-like to an already established manufacturer to make it here. Hyundai started out on the coasts in this way, perhaps it will work.
Since Ford is getting rid of their sedans, maybe they will let P&C sell theirs at the Ford dealerships to fill that gap in the market.
2026 is quite far away though it will be here sooner than we think. Peugeot and Citroen’s distinct French character, that (pardon the expression) je ne sais quoi that made them stand out from everything else on the road, has gone and there’s nothing really exciting about their cars anymore. Renaults are also looking a bit generic and dull. It’ll be a hard sell, though, given how long they have been out of the loop.
Well we just bought an almost-new Peugeot (our second) here in New Zealand and love it! And we didn’t buy it because we already had one but because it was what best fit our criteria. If we were in the US, we’d certainly be short-listing a Peugeot or Citroen. Both brands are slightly different, slightly quirky, yet intelligent and (usually) extremely stylish inside and out. I think they could conceivably appeal to the former Saab market.
We’ve had our 2006 Peugeot 307 SW for years, turning over 200,000km this year. It’s comfy, reliable and runs faultlessly, with the exception of a transmission that’s a tad dodgy (a couple of dead relays inside it, it’s not worth fixing them).
When we bought our second Peugeot early this year, we didn’t deliberately set out to buy one. We wanted a Subaru Outback-type 4wd lifted-wagon that was spacious and economical, stylish and luxurious, a little different from the mainstream but great to drive, but above all subtle and not flashy. We looked at a wide variety of makes and models, but the one that best filled our criteria was a Peugeot 508 RXH 4wd station wagon, a rather fascinating diesel-electric hybrid. So long story short, we bought it because it was the best for our wants and needs.
PSA’s current range in New Zealand is full of vehicles like our 508 – ostensibly mainstream, but different enough and stylish enough to appeal to those who want something a little different. I’m sure that’s something that would appeal to a number of US buyers!
Here’s our 508 alongside our old 307 (which we’ve kept as a runaround):
We need a COAL on this! This is a car I want to learn more about and which is truly fascinating.
Agreed! Come on Scott, please write a full article, with lots of pictures!
Well it’s been a year or three since I last had time to write for CC, due to major life changes (new partner, job challenges, and last year, moving to a new town and establishing a new business). But I still read CC daily and am still finding and photographing interesting cars, so I hope to have time to start writing again soon. When I do, the 508 will be the first article! 🙂
Good! I always enjoyed your articles.
Yes, I do think the current 508 looks like a very nice wagon.
Hopefully by then they will have gone away from the i-Cockpit concept. Apart from that the cars are impressively light at the moment and seem well-designed and efficient.
They seem to have a well-defined plan for a staged return – here is an interview with the North American CEO: http://www.autoline.tv/journal/?p=55853
We bought this Citroen C3 AirCross recently and so far it’s proved to be quiet, reliable and supremely usable (and as it’s 3-cylinder, it makes a lovely noise too!). It took a hefty knock to the driver’s side two weeks ago and you wouldn’t even know, as the plastic arch trims protected the bodywork. The young girl who hit me, her car came off much worse than mine. Typically, it happened just before we went on holiday, so it’ll need to go in for my insurance company to do a check on the suspension when we get home.
I’m American living in Ireland. When we moved here 3 years ago I was excited at all of my new car choices and Peugeot was at the top of my list. I drove and researched Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Opel and more…what did I buy? Toyota.
No
I only drive domestic brands because it is good for our economy, good for the environment, good for our unions and damn good vehicles anyway.
Highly doubtful. Probably won’t be buying another vehicle at all at this point, but if circumstances require a replacement vehicle used with good parts and service available close by would rule out a new limited network vehicle.
Now if I can just remember where the opening to the cave is…
“Ya gotta have a gimmick” probably doesn’t translate to French too well but it should utter it incessantly at PSA corporate before undertaking a return. They all just seem blah. What’s the point of sellling another bland SUV here? Certainly the Picasso, Cactus have a bit of spunk but Peugeot is a complete snore. Who knows in eight years but I’d say it’s foolish without a p.o.v. like: small luxury/French crazy-gutsy style/6wd/hovercraft/whatever but bring something new or don’t bother.