Peugeot Australia will introduce its first electric vehicle in 2023 in the form of a van, but it might not be alone.
Electric versions of the 208 hatchback and 2008 crossover could also be headed Down Under before the end of next year, the company has confirmed.
Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis hinted to CarExpert the e-208 and e-2008 are likely to be the next two cabs off the rank following the electric commercial vehicle that’s slated to kickstart the French brand’s EV assault.
“We will have electrified versions of passenger, SUV and LCV [nameplates] into next year,” Ms Gillis said.
Ms Gillis’s reference to ‘electrified’ vehicles throughout our conversation referred specifically to electric vehicles, while LCV refers to light commercial vehicle. Peugeot has confirmed its first EV in Australia will be an LCV, and globally the brand offers electric versions of its Partner, Expert and Boxer vans.
So far, the only electric passenger vehicles Peugeot offers globally are the e-208 and the e-308, though the latter has only just been revealed and hasn’t even launched in Europe yet – it’s scheduled for a mid-2023 launch there.
e-2008
The smaller e-208 has been on sale for a number of years in other markets and Ms Gillis has said on record previously that this model is under consideration for the Australian market, and reiterated this point again – though the petrol versions aren’t looking likely to return.
The e-208 recently received a raft of updates for the 2023 model year which saw improvements to power and range.
“If we’re going to move into that [light] segment, then we’re going to do it with something that’s quite impactful,” Ms Gillis said, “and we can see even from an overseas perspective, the success of the 208 is riding firmly on its electrified version.”
“We have always put down the ideal scenario is the e-208.”
The e-2008 is also the only electric SUV Peugeot produces for global markets at this time too, and given Australia’s thirst for crossovers the brand will no doubt be wanting to bring its rival to the Kia Niro and Volvo XC40 Recharge. Like the e-208, Peugeot’s local arm has confirmed the EV crossover is under consideration for our market.
Both the e-208 and e-3008 would be given premium positioning should they make the trip to Australia, though what exactly that means from a pricing and specification perspective remains to be seen.
e-308 Hatch and SW
Following the initial e-rollout in 2023, Peugeot will likely expand its EV range further with the aforementioned e-308 – though timing is unclear at this stage, CarExpert expects a 2024 arrival given the mid-2023 European launch date.
Available in both Hatch and SW (Sportswagon) body styles, the e-308 would be a logical follow-up to the GT Sport Plug-in Hybrid variant of the French small car due in the first half of 2023, and make the 308 line-up one of the most diverse in the market with petrol, PHEV and EV options.
Shortly after the e-308 was revealed in September, Ms Gillis said the new EV “is exciting, and we can confirm the e-308 is under evaluation for the Australian market as part of our electrification journey”.
Further, when we spoke with Ms Gillis at the petrol-powered 308 launch last week, she said: “if the option is there for us to have it, we have our hand up”.
“We know there is an opportunity with [the 308] within this market for passenger vehicles, then with electrification on top of that… we’re very keen to offer a level of choice within our market. The e-308 is super exciting both in wagon and hatch, and is definitely a consideration for our market.”
e-Expert
With the launch of an electric commercial vehicle in 2023, Peugeot will be one of the first legacy brands to offer an electric van in the Australian market – though whether it’ll be the e-Partner, e-Expert or e-Boxer remains to be seen.
So far the choice in Australia is limited to the LDV eDeliver 9, the Mercedes-Benz eVito and eSprinter, as well as the Ford E-Transit due in 2023. The Blue Oval will also introduce the E-Transit Custom in 2024, while Renault is set to bring the small Kangoo E-Tech Electric in 2023.
“There’s no reason why we can’t be a leader, and I think it’s also with regards to the quality and the spec where we consider it certainly leads the charge from an LCV perspective,” Ms Gillis said.
Further details about Peugeot’s upcoming electric models will be detailed in the new year.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
e-208
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