Peugeot Celebrates a Decade of the i-Cockpit

This year, Peugeot is celebrating a decade of the i-Cockpit—one of the French carmaker’s most distinct design features that’s been standard on all their cars since the first-generation 208.

With the appointment of Gilles Vidal as Head of Design, Peugeot pushed for a new era in their design, culminating with the i-Cockpit. Since then, i-Cockpit hasn’t stopped evolving, but it does retain four key features throughout:

• Compact steering wheel
• Instrument cluster located above the steering wheel
• Large high-definition touchscreen in the driver’s line of sight; 
• Series of piano keys or toggle switches allowing for quick access to main comfort functions.

These four key features were decided by Peugeot to give the i-Cockpit a three-level arrangement based on the human body for optimal ergonomics and driver comfort.

• Eyes: the information falls within the driver's line of sight so that the driver does not need to take their eyes off the road.
• Hands: the materials are pleasant to the touch, the assembly is well controlled, and the tactile or physical controls are well-placed. The shifter is intuitive and ergonomic. The associated steering wheel paddles allow the driver to change gears manually from time to time without losing the automatic function.
• Body: the passenger compartment forms a cockpit that wraps around its occupants. The front seats provide excellent comfort and support.

According to Peugeot, i-Cockpit works simply because they’ve accumulated anthropometric data on a global scale.

In their research, they’ve noticed that it isn’t the driver’s height that matters, rather it’s their chest to leg ratio that needs to be assessed. For example, some people have a longer torso compared to their leg length. But for others, it’s quite the opposite... If the average height of a man is 1.76 meters, the length of his torso varies from 87 to 98 centimeters. This has a direct impact on the positioning of his vision.

This anthropometric data has made it possible to calculate the range of adjustment for the seats or steering wheel, in order to reinforce the feeling of being in a cocoon and optimize on-board ergonomics, whatever the driver’s size.

The latest iteration of the i-Cockpit is called 3D Peugeot i-Cockpit, found in the all-new Peugeot 208. As in past designs, information is presented within the driver’s line of sight, however, with the 3D Peugeot i-Cockpit, the instrument cluster projects information like a hologram. This information is dynamic and animated: getting closer to the eye depending on the degree of importance or urgency, and potentially increasing driver reactivity by half a second.

Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot are Merging

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot have agreed to merge. The new entity, which will be 50/50 split among the two automakers will create the fourth largest global automotive OEM by volume and third largest by revenue.

With its combined financial strength and skills, the merged entity will be particularly well placed to provide innovative, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions, both in a rapidly urbanizing environment and in rural areas around the world. The gains in efficiency derived from larger volumes, as well as the benefits of uniting the two companies’ strengths and core competencies, will ensure the combined business can offer all its customers best-in-class products, technologies and services, and respond with increased agility to the shift taking place in this highly demanding sector.

The combined entity will have a balanced and profitable global presence with a highly complementary and iconic brand portfolio covering all key vehicle segments from luxury, premium, and mainstream passenger cars through to SUVs and trucks & light commercial vehicles. This will be underpinned by FCA’s strength in North America and Latin America and Groupe PSA’s solid position in Europe. The new Group will have much greater geographic balance with 46 percent of revenues derived from Europe and 43 percent from North America, based on aggregated 2018 figures of each company. The combination will bring the opportunity for the new company to reshape the strategy in other regions.

The efficiencies that will be gained from optimizing investments in vehicle platforms, engine families and new technologies while leveraging increased scale will enable the business to enhance its purchasing performance and create additional value for stakeholders. More than two-thirds of run rate volumes will be concentrated on 2 platforms, with approximately 3 million cars per year on each of the small platform and the compact/mid-size platform.

Completion of the proposed combination is expected to take place in 12-15 months.

Fiat Chrysler Confirms Merger Talks with Peugeot Citroen

After Nissan blocked a potential merger with Renault, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles or FCA seems to have found a potential new partner: PSA. After reports on a potential business combination emerged, FCA has confirmed that talks are underway with the parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, and Opel.

The merger, worth USD 50 billion could potentially transform the global automotive industry given that it will form the fourth largest auto manufacturing group. The merger could also help leverage technical expertise from both groups to help them with challenges such as electrification. Moreover, the merger could help save around 4 billion euros.

While FCA has yet to comment on the details of the proposed merger, Reuters cites sources that the merger will entail a 50/50 share swap, creating a new company formally based in the Netherlands. In terms of board structure, the combined company will have 11—six from Peugeot’s side, and five from Fiat Chrysler’s.

Peugeot Owners Will Plant Trees for Mother Earth

Peugeot Philippines revealed a new initiative as part of its long-term strategy for the environment. Dubbed, “The Protectors of the Environment” (POE), it is a program designed to involve Peugeot customers and their children in a movement to combat climate change.

As the French carmaker’s first corporate philanthropy program, the Protectors of the Environment aims to fully immerse its participants in the issues and challenges facing environmental conservation.

Under the program, all new owners of Peugeot will be given the option to join the cause by volunteering in tree-planting activities in various locations, including private parks of selected communities, public lands reclaimed by the city governments in Metro Manila, and a one-hectare space in the Angat Dam Reserve and Eco Park adopted and maintained by Peugeot Philippines.

Educational nature tours and seminars will also be held in partnership with selected government and non-profit organizations. Customers can also choose to participate in various international fora on climate change to enhance their understanding of the crisis on a truly global scale. Aiding Peugeot Philippines’ efforts in these activities are the French Embassy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Briquettors Association of the Philippines.

Peugeot PH Continues Customer-Centric Drive with Free Highway RFID with Every New Purchase

Prepare to queue up in the fast lane as Peugeot Philippines is now giving away free AutoSweep (SLEX) and EasyTrip (NLEX) RFIDs with every new Peugeot purchase.

“We at Peugeot Philippines are very proud of the world class products that we offer. And so we asked ourselves, ‘How do we enhance the Peugeot ownership experience? How can we make our customers feel even better?’ That’s how we came up with the idea of partnering with both major thoroughfares in Luzon. We’re glad to have great partners in both AutoSweep and EasyTrip,” says Glen Dasig President of Peugeot Philippines.

Thanks to the new program, customers of Peugeot will have the Autosweep and Easytrip RFIDs conveniently installed in their units upon delivery. This will save them the trouble of having to go to an authorized station for installation. The RFIDs will have a preliminary load of P 500 worth of credits for each RFID.

AutoSweep provides convenient cashless transactions for vehicles plying SLEX. The partnership is a welcome development for AutoSweep, whose goal is to help ease the congestion in Southern Manila and its nearby provinces. “In removing the need to stop and pay in cash, we at AutoSweep are effectively making our highways more efficient and traffic-free,” AutoSweep Head of RFID Operations, Ms. Grenalene “Nelly” A. Argota says. “RFID is a cashless and electronic mode of payment hence no more scrambling for cash at the toll gates. It is faster than cash, lasting only 2-3 seconds at the tollgate. This is why we are proud to partner with Peugeot Philippines in their campaign,” she adds.

Peugeot is also proud to partner with Easytrip Services Corporation, the exclusive electronic toll collection system provider that manages 400,000 customers in NLEX, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX). “We are happy to be working with Peugeot on this project. Not only is it allowing us to reach more motorists, but it also strengthens our objective of delivering various solutions in the smart mobility service platform,” says Easytrip’s President and General Manager, Eugene S. Antonio.

Peugeot Philippines is the first car company to include RFIDs to both North and South Luzon as part of the vehicle package. The project is one of many customer centric initiatives that the company will be launching this year (the other so far is their unique 24/7 service center). “It’s all about our customers. Any vehicle will take one from point A to point B in relative comfort. Only a car company truly devoted to customer satisfaction will go out of its way to offer services that go beyond what a vehicle alone can offer,” concludes Dasig.

Peugeot Philippines Now Offers 24/7 Service

Peugeot Philippines has come up with an innovative aftersales service program that’ll delight busy bees and night owls out here: 24/7 service.

It’s a move that emphasizes customer convenience above all else and with that, if you feel like having an oil change done at 2 in the morning, or require changing of brake pads before heading off to work (or after), the French carmaker has you covered.

For now, the service is limited to Peugeot Pasig but the services they can do is pretty comprehensive. Aside from Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS), the 24/7 service center can also handle rescue (towing and roadside assistance) as well as parts replacement. Heck, they can even take in body repair inquires, too. Imagine: if your Peugeot is coding but requires servicing, you can simply drop it off before 7 AM and pick it up at 8 PM. That’s convenience!

Since the service is by appointment for now, Peugeot owners can contact their service center at +63 2 514 5635 to book a sked.