Identity Crisis, Management Changes Leave Peugeot Sputtering in China

(Beijing) – Despite its early arrival to China, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars has faced a downward slide in the world's largest car market this year, hampering its attempted comeback in the rest of the world.

PSA Group, formerly known as PSA Peugeot Citroen, arrived in China three decades ago, ahead of most global brands and at a time when domestic rivals were still in their infancy. But the company has suffered from an identity crisis in recent years, as it finds itself in a difficult niche that makes its cars comparably priced but less attractive than more-popular Western nameplates. At the same time, its models are significantly more expensive than lower-quality domestic Chinese brands.