Renault, PSA sales tumble in first half

French automakers Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen were hit harder than their global counterparts in the first half of the year amid the Chinese auto market's extended downturn. 

Renault brand's sales plunged 76 percent year on year to 8,901, according to Renault's car joint venture partner Dongfeng Motor Group.

Dongfeng Renault, incorporated in 2013, builds and markets the Koleos crossover and Kadjar SUV for the Renault brand. It also sells the imported Renault Espace multipurpose vehicle. 

Deliveries at Renault Brilliance, Renault’s light-vehicle partnership with Brilliance Jinbei Automobile Co., dropped 8.1 percent to 78,371 in the first six months, Renault said this week. 

Renault Brilliance, established in 2017, assembles SUVs and vans for Brilliance Jinbei’s Jinbei and Huasong brands. 

PSA Peugeot Citroen, which also operates two joint ventures in China, this week said its local sales slumped 62 percent in the first half. It didn’t divulge the volume. 

Among PSA’s partnerships, deliveries at Dongfeng PSA plummeted 60 percent to 63,027 in the period, according to Dongfeng. 

Dongfeng PSA, incorporated in 1992, produces and markets Peugeot and Citroen vehicles.

Sales haven’t been disclosed for Changan PSA, a joint venture formed in 2011 with Changan Automobile Co. that assembles and distributes Citroen DS models. 

The Chinese government is pushing automakers to expand output of electrified vehicles through its carbon credit program. 

To meet regulatory requirements, Renault is to launch sales of the City K-ZE full-electric crossover this year in China. 

PSA, meanwhile, plans to start selling the hybrid version of the elongated Peugeot 508 and two full-electric variants of the Peugeot 2008 and the Citroen DS 3 Crossback in 2020.