The Peugeot RCZ will no longer be on offer in the UK, once the remaining dealer stock has been sold.
Despite being part of the line-up since 2010, it is one of the casualties of PSA chief Carlos Tavares’ product rationalisation strategy, according to an exclusive report by CAR.
When CAR spoke to Tavares a year ago, he said sports models were less important to the business than having viable, profitable mainstream models and the range was to be reduced from 45 to 26 models by 2022.
Now, Tavares told CAR: “We will move more to sporty derivatives of mainstream cars, rather than dedicated sports cars,
“Dealers will tell you I’m making 80% of my business with just four cars.
“Peugeot dealers will say 208, 308, 2008 and 3008 - end of story.
“We are completely fragmenting everything, diluting the resources, diluting the power of the company by making too many cars on a regional basis instead of by focusing and having one global car on which you focus all the talent of the company.
“Frankly at 26 , it’s still too many, but if I say less people will commit suicide.
“I just have to say 26.”
Dealer stock of the RCZ coupe (pictured) numbers around 100.
Jeremy has been a journalist for 30 years, 20 of which have been in business-to-business automotive. He was a writer and news editor on AM-sister brand Fleet News for three years before setting up the AM website. For the last five years he has been Bauer B2B’s head of digital helping to manage the digital assets of AM, together with Fleet News, Commercial Fleet, Rail and Smart Transport.
Martin Hughes - 17/02/2016 14:00
Back to the 90's when they concentrated on making a few boring cars. The RCZ stood as a shining light at what the company could (and did) achieve - it was the best advertising Peugeot ever invested in. Looking at their depleted line-up, I'll see a 3008 and think "If that's the best they can do....." I do hope they succeed, even despite the lack of a forward thinking visionary. I can't wait for the 2008 GTi or 3008 Rallye - I mean, literally hold me down (in case I gag!)