The French automaker, Peugeot, has been spotted testing its 3008 SUV on Indian roads. This has sparked curiosity and speculation among auto enthusiasts and industry experts alike. The question on everyone’s mind is – why is the Peugeot 3008 SUV out on the roads in India?
Peugeot is a brand that has some recognition in India. The French carmaker has been present for a number of years, but it hasn’t made significant waves in the country. Peugeot’s cars have been spotted testing on our roads a few times, with the Peugeot 2008 being spied twice now. However, this is the first time the larger 3008 SUV has been caught testing in India.
The SUV spied on Pune’s roads is the facelift of the previous-gen Peugeot 3008 that was on sale in international markets from 2020. The SUV shares its EMP2 platform with other Stellantis models such as the Citroen C5 Aircross. In select international markets, the 3008 SUV comes with a variety of powertrain options1. However, there’s no way of knowing which of the above powertrains are under the hood of the 3008 SUV spied here.
Our sources have revealed that this unit may not have been brought to India by parent company Stellantis, but a local manufacturer could be using the French company’s SUV to benchmark its models. This is why the 3008 spied has red plates. Nonetheless, Stellantis does not have any plans on bringing this SUV, or the latest-gen model, to India.
While the auto conglomerate doesn’t consider India a profitable market, it is a very strategic one for Stellantis. It may bring the Leapmotor EV company to our market, and is going to invest another Rs 2,000 crore into Citroen India for the development of new models.