PSA Peugeot Citroen to build pick-up truck – report

Does PSA Peugeot Citroën’s upcoming growth plan include the possibility of building a pick-up truck? It certainly looks that way, if reports by Autocar UK and Auto Express are to be believed.

According to the former, the French conglomerate is expected to reveal a new six-year growth plan, codenamed “Push to Pass,” on April 5, with a one-tonne pick-up truck expected to be part of the strategy.

When asked about such a vehicle, Peugeot CEO Maxime Picat said, “we always consider the pick-up market as an opportunity, it’s part of our history. We’re thinking about it. We update our group strategy on Tuesday, April 5, and we’ll mention which cars we will be targeting. I will be able to reveal more then.”

Denis Martin, CEO of PSA Europe, echoed Picat’s statement. “Maybe. You will see. It’s not a question for today, but you will know more next week,” he said.

Problems with economies of scale mean that it’s unlikely that the group will handle the development of a pick-up truck alone, which means that a joint venture – particularly one that utilises PSA’s existing collaborations – is a more feasible option.

While PSA already builds the Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Jumper vans based on the Fiat Ducato, a vehicle based on a Fiat truck is unlikely. The Italian brand only has one in-house developed pick-up, the unibody Toro; the traditional ladder-frame Fullback is based on the Mitsubishi Triton.

Therefore, it would perhaps be more practical if PSA engages Toyota (with which it has co-developed the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1 city cars based on the Toyota Aygo, while the Toyota Proace van is based on the Peugeot Traveller and Citroen SpaceTourer) to build pick-up trucks off the Toyota Hilux.

If PSA Peugeot Citroen goes down the latter route, it won’t be the only company rumoured to be building a truck based on a Toyota – Mazda is also reportedly developing the next generation of its BT-50 on the bones of the Hilux, ending a longstanding joint venture with Ford.

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