Peugeot UK managing director David Peel told delegates at the brand’s national dealer conference to “be prepared” for electric vehicles as its makes the transition to an EV model line-up.

Addressing the brand’s annual dealer conference at the NEC in Birmingham this week, Peel told retailers that 100% of the Peugeot product range would have an electrified derivative by 2023 with first models to arrive over the next five years.

Over the past three years, the Peugeot dealer network has been resized, creating “a solid foundation to deliver success for the brand and ensuring the network continues to go from strength to strength”, said Peel.

Now there will be further investment with the installation of EV charge points at dealership sites across the UK franchise.

“The extension of powertrain choices from our award winning and efficient new diesel and petrol engines to the next generation of electrified models this year, will give customers options they have never had before, providing a car for every customer’s needs,” said Peel.

“The sales figures we have seen from the past year are a testament to the great job our united dealer network is doing, and we have full confidence in them taking on the changes set to come in 2019 with the enthusiasm and energy to drive the Peugeot brand forward even further.”

Peugeot’s market share in the UK rose 0.19% during 2018 as it defied the market with a 1.44% decline in registrations, to 81,403.

The strong performance was credited to the brand’s new breed of SUV, with over 42,000 2008s, 3008s and 5008s sold through the year.

Peugeot franchisees achieved an average of 1% return on sales (RoS), earning over £100,000 in cash profit.

The brand said that the figure was a demonstration of ongoing profit growth within the network as it targets a 1.5% figure for all its retail partners.

In 2015 RoS stood at 0.6% with cash profits of less than £65,000.

Peugeot has set out a far-reaching LEV (low-emission vehicle) strategy in readiness for a raft of new models, meanwhile.

The Peugeot e-LEGEND concept car, unveiled in 2018, marked the start of the brand’s transition towards electric power and autonomous driving.

And the brand said in a statement that its key message to the dealer network was that a future of ‘boring’ LEV’s is not, and has never been, part of the Peugeot DNA.

“e-LEGEND simulates a future where PEUGEOT are committed to deliver inspirational driving experiences and to ‘unbore the future’”, it said.