France - The OEM has recently hired a new team of 225 people to work a third shift at its Mangualde plant, and another of 900 for a fourth shift at its Vigo plant. This is part of its plan to strengthen its market share in Europe's van segment (B-LCV), which stood at around 30% in 2017.
The additional workers will support the launch of three updated B-LCVs: the Peugeot Partner, the Citroen Berlingo and the Opel/Vauxhall Combo. Each of these will be built on the efficient modular platform 2 (EMP2), and the latter will be the first Opel/Vauxhall vehicle to be made at the Vigo plant.
"This new generation of vans marks a new phase in our range renewal process," stated Philippe Narbeburu, Groupe PSA's senior vice president of LCVs. "Our modern line up features efficient vehicles designed to meet our customers' demanding needs and provide a better customer experience. We hope to consolidate our leadership in Europe and continue to export our knowledge and skills to other continents."
The company also recently announced plans to add a fourth shift to its plant in Rennes, France, in order to keep up with growing demand for SUVs.