Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota link for new vans

CITROEN, Peugeot and Toyota have taken the wraps off a new joint venture van to be built as an MPV for private use and shuttle and combi for businesses.

The new Citroen Spacetourer, Peugeot Traveller and Toyota Proace will share all technical features, powertrains and equipment but with a distinctive styling rooted in each of the brands’ design language in the Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota link.

This venture continues a collaboration between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Toyota Motor Europe (TME) started in 2012 to last beyond 2020, with the first Toyota Proaces based on the current generation Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch.

Citroen Spacetourer

The aim is for both companies to offer a competitive product in the mid-size, light commercial vehicle, shuttle and Combi segments and benefit from optimisation of development and production cost.

Produced at PSA Peugeot Citroen’s plant of Sevelnord, in Valenciennes, France, with development and industrial investment from Toyota,  the three vehicles will be launched in the first half of 2016 and shown on the brands’ stands at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Patrice Lucas, PSA Peugeot Citroen head of programme and strategy, said:“This agreement has enabled us to develop a new and efficient vehicle platform, offering our customers around the world modern products which are particularly competitive in their segment.”

TME president and CEO Johan van Zyl added: “Both teams worked very hard together and at individual brand level and I am confident that our distinctive new van with all its variants will strengthen the Toyota light commercial vehicle offer in Europe. The new PROACE will complement the range of solid and durable vehicles customers are expecting from Toyota.”

The Peugeot Traveller