Peugeot spreads driveaway pricing

PEUGEOT Australia has introduced driveaway pricing on some of its models, while others benefit from a price drop of up to $1600, in a move to boost the appeal of its European model line-up.

The new pricing and changes are permanent and effective immediately, and take in a number of models, including the 208 light car, 308 small hatch and sedan, 508 mid-sizer, as well as the 2008, 3008 and 4008 SUVs.

The car-maker's local distributor, Sime Darby Motor Group, says the driveaway pricing will save customers money, and used the example of the 508 Allure Diesel sedan, which has been reduced $5500 compared with the old recommended retail pricing after on-road costs.

At the entry point of the Peugeot range, the 208 hatch in 1.6VTi Active auto guise is now available for $19,990, driveaway, whereas previously it had the same pricetag, but excluding on-road costs.

Driveaway pricing has also been applied to the 2008 crossover, with the 1.2VTi Active manual now $23,990 d/a, compared with $22,490, plus on-roads, while the two-variant high-riding 3008 hatch range is now driveaway only.

Some of the biggest savings are in the increasingly popular 308 hatch and wagon range, with the base 1.2-litre Access hatch maintaining its $21,990 pricetag, but it shifts from RRP to driveaway.

Given that pricing of some rivals including Volkswagen's Golf, the Renault Megane and the Mazda3 is not driveaway, the Peugeot 308 is now one of the most keenly priced small hatches in its segment.

Other changes in the 308 range include a $1604 drop in recommended retail price for the 110kW BlueHDi Allure auto hatch to $33,686, while the Touring (wagon) version of the same variant is $1447 cheaper at $36,543.

Elsewhere, Peugeot has chopped $1000 from the 208 GTi pocket rocket which is now available from $29,990, plus on-roads, while the same amount has been taken off the price of the 508 Active petrol auto sedan that now retails for $36,990.

Peugeot Australia general manager John Startari said the decision to introduce driveaway pricing to a wider range of models was made on the back of a successful earlier campaign for the 308.

“The introduction of driveaway pricing is aimed at ensuring that all Peugeot customers gain access to the same offers Australia-wide. As a bonus they also receive greater value due to price reductions across relevant models,” he said.

“The decision to roll out driveaway pricing to a wider selection of vehicles was in part due to a positive response to the recent 308 driveaway offer.

“Ultimately, the winners with our new pricing are customers. From 208 to 508 our latest vehicles are great to drive and great to look at. Now, with driveaway pricing, they represent even greater value.” The new-generation 308 has given Peugeot a shot in the arm, according to official sales data, with 581 examples of the small hatch and wagon shifted in the first four months of 2015, a massive 221 per cent increase over the same period last year.

This has, in turn, boosted Peugeot's overall sales by 16.3 per cent to the end of April, with 1617 units sold compared with 1390 at the same point in 2014.