Although its Ryton Peugeot plant is to close its fourth shift in June, PSA is to recruit 7,000 more people in France this year, having taken on 4,400 in 2003.

The group's recruitment plans for this year, which concern most of its French sites, include some 2,000 white collar staff and 5,000 productives, on indefinite contracts. The recruitment volume will in part replace temporary posts and staff leaving the group on early retirement schemes, and anticipates forthcoming retirements at normal age. PSA Peugeot Citroen has taken on some 75,000 staff over the last five years, 43,000 of these in France.

PSA chief executive Jean-Martin Folz has said he expects the group to achieve an operating margin this year comparable to that of 2003 – 4%, with sales slightly higher than last year's following the launch of the new 407 range.