EV Peugeots confirmed for Australia in 2022

Peugeot has confirmed its EV journey will kick off in Australia in 2022.

Local importer Inchcape has confirmed it will add to the already-promised plug-in hybrid electric vehicles arriving later in 2021 with some pure electric vehicles in 2022.

And light commercial vehicles such as delivery vans will be included in the EV push.

“We’ll have electric variants of models in 2022 although we can’t confirm what they’ll be at this stage,” said Peugeot Citroen Australia general manager Kate Gillis.

Globally Peugeot has committed to an electrified version of every model in its range by 2025, although that’s not a done deal for Australia yet.

“We’ll go through the evaluation process to make sure it’s the right model for our market,” says Gillis.

Best guesses are that it’ll be a more gradual ramp-up towards a range of EVs locally, although Peugeot Australia says there are no issues with supply, something that has affected other brands, including Volkswagen, Ford, Jeep and others in Australia.

The most likely first addition to the Peugeot EV range in Australia seems to be the e-208, an all-electric version of the 208 city hatchback.

Gillis admits the business case for the 208 is “looking favourable” and that it would tell a stronger story just offering the electric version and not worrying about a petrol model for Australia.

That’s particularly relevant given the premium price positioning that makes Peugeots more expensive than many rivals.

“It is a segment [small city hatches] that is declining to SUVs, so we need to make sure we’re matching our product offer to what they segment is doing,” says Gillis.

“I think there’s some strength and confidence in our range generally if we can bring a model out that is only one variant like EV.”

The e-2008 is another one on the radar of Peugoet locally.

But it’s EV vans that could be most interesting for Peugeot locally.

Vans such as the e-Expert and e-Partner – EV versions of the Expert and Partner already on sale in Australia – would be logical options.

“We’ll be evaluating our LCV lineup based on electrification of those particular models,” says Gillis.

“We’re starting to get some enquiries from SMEs as well as fleet with regards to what our future is around electrification. There’s definitely a bubbling away of interest there.”

As for who will buy the Peugeot electric vehicles, Gillis believes younger buyers are a prime target.

“I think electrification potentially is a younger audience as well based on the fact that they’re looking at emissions and climate change.”

But she also says older buyers could be in the mix.

“From an older demographic you’ve got very progressive thinking … discretionary spend is possibly a lot higher, you’ve also got particularly post-Covid you’ve got that discretionary spend that used to be spent on travel.”

And Gillis believes the technology in the upcoming Peugeot PHEV and EV models will place the brand well for incremental growth, albeit in a lower-volume part of the market.

“The advancement and the technology we have within our electric vehicles will stand well within the market.”

For now the focus is on the second half of 2021, when Peugeot Australia will launch PHEV versions of the 3008 and 508.

“This will pave the way for the launch of the electric models in 2022.”