During 1979, Citroën manufactured 732,245 cars, so by 1989 only making
772,500 was disappointing. During the same period, Peugeot output was up
about 50%. In 1979 four Citroën models exceeded 100,000 units but in
1989 only two could better 50,000. True those two (the AX and BX) were
popular but basing the whole brand around two models isn't ideal. The CX
started life in 1974, and the 2CV in 1949 and they were both still
there in 1989!
So there were not many new models until later in the decade, while others just stayed too long. One good decision was to introduce the brand to China in 1984, a nation it has done well in. Below the chart there is a brief overview of new models for this period.
Data source: Freyssenet.com
AX: This super mini replaced both the Visa and LN/A models. It was light and aerodynamic which made it economical. It had clean lines too and was a popular car.
BX: It replaced the GS as the family car in the range. Again light, which helped performance and economy. It was roomy and had a very smooth ride. It also proved popular.
XM: An executive model which was Car of the Year in Europe in 1990 and had just arrived for this period. It went on to be quite successful.
C15 Break: This was a van based on the Visa model but was a tiny recreational vehicle as best I can tell. It sold in modest numbers but no doubt paid its way.
Summary: What Peugeot wanted from its acquisition of Citroën was presumably cost savings with sharing as much as it could with the two makes without simply badge-engineering.
Other years: 1945-59, 1960-69, 1970-79, 1990-99, 2000-09.
So there were not many new models until later in the decade, while others just stayed too long. One good decision was to introduce the brand to China in 1984, a nation it has done well in. Below the chart there is a brief overview of new models for this period.
Yr | AX | BX | XM | C15 | 2CV | CX | |
| Break | | |||||
1980 | - | - | - | - | 89,994 | 77,237 | |
1981 | - | - | - | - | 89,472 | 75,213 | |
1982 | - | 13,462 | - | - | 86,060 | 58,287 | |
1983 | - | 181,649 | - | - | 59,673 | 56,729 | |
1984 | - | 220,889 | - | - | 54,923 | 41,949 | |
1985 | - | 254,420 | - | - | 54,067 | 38,726 | |
1986 | 28,600 | 289,832 | - | - | 56,663 | 35,409 | |
1987 | 238,600 | 294,653 | - | - | 43,255 | 35,630 | |
1988 | 329,516 | 295,639 | - | 24,281 | 22,717 | 23,979 | |
1989 | 366,245 | 287,855 | 46,282 | 46,021 | 19,077 | 6,997 | |
Yr | Visa | Dyanne | Méhari | GS | LN | Total | |
| LNA | | |||||
1980 | 117,500 | 107,183 | 8,351 | 191,639 | 30,971 | 622,875 | |
1981 | 179,000 | 70,057 | 4,833 | 138,146 | 35,219 | 591,940 | |
1982 | 212,500 | 64,014 | 4,137 | 111,405 | 34,565 | 584,430 | |
1983 | 149,500 | 34,285 | 3,349 | 61,132 | 35,940 | 582,257 | |
1984 | 149,381 | 13,326 | 2,654 | 18,510 | 21,291 | 522,923 | |
1985 | 140,866 | 8,429 | 1,882 | 7,130 | 13,917 | 519,437 | |
1986 | 101,600 | 7,915 | 669 | 49 | 5,340 | 526,077 | |
1987 | 48,617 | 3,936 | 381 | 300 | - | 665,372 | |
1988 | 6,531 | - | - | - | - | 702,663 | |
1989 | - | - | - | - | - | 772,477 |
Data source: Freyssenet.com
AX: This super mini replaced both the Visa and LN/A models. It was light and aerodynamic which made it economical. It had clean lines too and was a popular car.
BX: It replaced the GS as the family car in the range. Again light, which helped performance and economy. It was roomy and had a very smooth ride. It also proved popular.
XM: An executive model which was Car of the Year in Europe in 1990 and had just arrived for this period. It went on to be quite successful.
C15 Break: This was a van based on the Visa model but was a tiny recreational vehicle as best I can tell. It sold in modest numbers but no doubt paid its way.
Summary: What Peugeot wanted from its acquisition of Citroën was presumably cost savings with sharing as much as it could with the two makes without simply badge-engineering.
Other years: 1945-59, 1960-69, 1970-79, 1990-99, 2000-09.
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