PSA May Upend Retail Dealership Model When It Enters US Market

PSA North America CEO Larry Dominique is flirting with the idea of upending the automotive retail model. Unlike most auto execs, Dominique can afford to do so because he is starting with a blank canvas.

PSA Group, the French automaker that owns Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and other brands, intends to begin selling vehicles stateside by 2026. Before that, Dominique and his lieutenants must map out a retail strategy. Dominique stressed that no decisions have been made, but one strategy under consideration involves blending software tools with a low-investment, high-margin retail network.

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TomM - 5/21/2018 8:13:51 PM

+2 Boost

Really - he thinks he can "upend" the American Dealer sales network model because he is starting from a blank slate - HA HA.

With what - Citroen (Barely known in the USA) - Peugeot (was here with poor results - and OPEL (The import arm of Buick). Unless they are offering substantial price relief - they may not have a chance anyway - the Chinese might beat them to the USA. And of course - they will need NON-GM product from OPEL to make it work.

MDarringer - 5/21/2018 8:44:01 PM

+2 Boost

The reality is that the Chinese will be in the US market by 2026. The Chinese--I predict--will be much more successful coming into the market than a French company with three lackluster brands and a fourth named after an ancient Citroen that NO ONE here remembers or cares to learn about for that matter.

dumpsty - 5/22/2018 10:36:06 AM

+2 Boost

You mean PSA will have to de-tangle their product designs from Buick before offering Opel models in the US. Otherwise, US consumers will just see Opel as another GM sub-brand & treat them accordingly. PSA will fail if they have obvious ties to any currently being made by GM.