Stellantis sees its share reach over 7% from 6.8% in Ukraine's automotive market in 2023

MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The Stellantis representative office in Ukraine (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, DS Automobiles, Jeep) sold around 5,100 new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCV) via its dealer chain in 2023, gaining more than 7% of the market, Ukrainian media reported citing the representative office's press service.

As previously reported, the share of Stellantis brands, whose sales amounted to 3,000 vehicles, accounted for 6.84% of the passenger car and LCV market in 2022.

This means that in 2023, sales of the five brands increased almost 70%, while their market share rose slightly given that the new passenger car and LCV market grew 63.5% year-on-year to 65,100 vehicles last year (including 65,100 cars and around 7,400 commercial trucks/vans).

"Thus, the aggregate growth of Stellantis brands exceeded the growth of the new car market in Ukraine by 6%. Moreover, the end of the year was very positive: last December's sales growth allowed Stellantis to gain 9.7% of the market, which may signal a steady rise in sales in 2024," the press service said.

According to the representative office, among the brands, Peugeot became the sales leader (in 2022, it was Citroen) with a 74% surge in sales to 2,170 vehicles, which allowed it to gain around 3% of the automotive market (2.81% in 2022).

The best-selling models were crossovers Peugeot 3008 (470 cars) and Peugeot 2008 (348 cars), while trucks and vans Peugeot Boxer (294 vehicles), Peugeot Partner (168 vehicles) and Peugeot Rifter (144 vehicles) were consistently popular.

Among passenger car models, the Peugeot 301 sedan (198 cars) and the new Peugeot 408 cross-fastback (194 units sold in less than a year on the market) were sold well.

In addition, the company believes the launch of the Peugeot Landtrek pickup truck (225 cars sold in less than a year), a completely new product, was a success.

Citroen brand sales soared 58% to more than 2,000 vehicles, which allowed the company to take 2.8% of the market (2.87% in 2022).

"Thanks to a wide LCV range, Citroen is becoming the leader in sales of special vehicles and converted vehicles," the statement said.

Sales of German brand Opel, as Stellantis Ukraine said, went up 96.5% last year to 890 cars, with a 1.2% market share, while the Opel Combo compact van (344 cars) and the Opel Grandland mid-size crossover (297 cars) saw the largest sales. Compact crossovers Opel Mokka (104 cars) and Opel Crossland (74 cars) were in good demand.

The DS Automobiles premium brand sold 69 cars (62 cars in 2022), with the DS 4 hatchbacks sold the most (47 cars).

The company deems the main achievement for the Jeep brand on the Ukrainian market its relaunch by a new importer.

"The comprehensive 'relaunch' of the brand in Ukraine took place at the end of 2023, so the results of Jeep sales are not yet indicative. However, 2024 should see the full strength of the brand, especially taking into account the replenishment of the model lineup," the statement said.

As reported, the lineup for launching the brand has been formed, price lists have been announced, and new dealer centers in the largest Ukrainian cities are starting to operate.

"This year, the compact crossover Jeep Avenger will complement the model lineup already on the market - the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and Compass," it said.

Stellantis Ukraine has been conducting free repair of state and municipal vehicle fleet since March 2022 with 2,700 vehicles repaired, over 10,500 applications for repair and maintenance submitted, and the total cost of works exceeding UAH 75 million for now, the statement said.

The Stellantis auto concern was established in the middle of January 2021 as a result of merger of PSA Group with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA).

According to the AUTO-Consulting information and analytical group, Stellantis Ukraine is the fourth largest company on Ukraine's passenger car market in 2023 with a 7.1% share (after Toyota Ukraine, Renault Ukraine and UkrAVTO), while it was fifth in 2022.

In 2022, sales of new passenger cars and LCVs of four brands (without Jeep) in the Stellantis Ukraine dealer chain dropped 73%, with their market share falling 2.7 p.p.