PSA aims for full range of eco-friendly cars

PSA/Peugeot Citroen SA aims to provide an environmentally friendly car to each of its customer segments, its CEO told an car conference on Thursday.

According to KHABAR KHODRO, "The objective we have to offer an eco-friendly solution to each segment of customers," Philippe Varin said at an event in Brussels.

PSA, along with Fiat and Toyota, is one of the carmakers best-placed to comply with European Union targets for improving fuel efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

PSA ranked third in 2010 with an average CO2 output of 131.6 grams per kilometer. Fiat was tops with an average of 125.9g/km and Toyota was No. 2 at 130.0g/km, according to data from market research JATO Dynamics. The European Commission wants the industry to reduce average fleet CO2 to 120g/km starting in 2012.

PSA's No. 2 executive, brands boss Jean-Marc Gales, told Automotive News Europe in an interview that by 2012 the automaker wants to sell more than 1 million vehicles that emit less than 120g/km of CO2. Last year, the figure was 720,000 Peugeots and Citroens.

"We want to roll out start-stop right across our entire model lineup, and save up to 15 percent in fuel per model. The new C4 has started things off. By 2013, we want to sell 1 million vehicles equipped with this technology," Gales said.