Peugeot 408 Pilot Production Starts in Russia

The Peugeot 408 is a global project developed for the brand’s three key markets in Russia, China and Latin America. For each of these markets a profound adaptation to specific climate and road conditions was carried out, and the preferences of local customers were taken into account. The team of engineers who worked on the 408 project conducted extensive testing on the vehicle, taking into consideration local driving conditions in Russia. The Peugeot 408 was profoundly adapted to withstand severe winter conditions found through the Urals and beyond the Arctic Circle. As a result the 408 is suited to Russian climate conditions, apparent in adaptations made to different aspects of the vehicle.

The New Peugeot 408 mass production will be launched this year at the PCMA Russian facilities in the Kaluga region. At present, all the installation of equipment is complete with new welding, painting and assembly facilities successfully tested, production standards improved and the PSA Excellence System introduced to boost the overall efficiency of the plant. All these factors have contributed to a smooth transition from SKD to a full-cycle production.

During the preparation of the Peugeot 408 production launch, specific attention was given to the selection of the components suppliers, which will allow for an increase in the level of localization to continue in the future. The geographic location of suppliers is extensive – spreading from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, but with the greatest number of components produced in the Kaluga region. Some of the suppliers include:
• The Russian branch of the American Company “Lear”, which is very experienced in the field of seat manufacturing
• The French company Faurecia, with operations located in Russia, supplies interior and exterior plastic parts, including the dashboard, door trims and the exhaust system
• The Canadian company Magna which produces bumpers for the new model at their Russian facilities.