Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 NOT going to China

The Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 - won't be sold in China

It looks as if the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid – and future Peugeot Hybrid4 cars – will not be sold in China because of intellectual property rights.

On the whole, we’re not huge fans of hybrids. At least not the sort of boring hybrid Toyota has infected the car world with. But Peugeot do seem to be going a more driver-focused route with their Hybrid4 technology. They look set to mate decently powerful diesel engines to drive the front wheels with useful electric motors to drive the back. And the first Hybrid4 to hit the roads will be the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4.

The 3008 Hybrid4 will get 200bhp to play with and a high spec, parking it firmly at the top of the 3008 range. But what you’ll get from the more expensive setup is more power, better handling and the possibility of over 70mpg. Which for a car we already consider to be the best of the crossovers should make it very desirable.

The 3008 Hybrid4 is set to go on sale in Spring 2011. But it’s looking as though one of the most important market places for car makers – China – is going to miss out. Why? Because Government regulations in China are making it impossible for Peugeot to introduce the Hybrid4 in China as it would mean divulging all their intellectual property on the Hybrid4 system to their Chinese partners. Not surprisingly the man from Peugeot says no.

Peugeot is not alone in trying to come to terms with intellectual property problems in China. Similar concerns have cropped up in a number of deals recently (Volvo and Saab spring to mind) but it seems that if car makers want to do business in China they have to play by China’s rules or not get access to what is probably the most important market on the planet.

Western car makers are already compelled to partner with a Chinese company in order to market their product in China – Peugeot partners with Dongfeng Motor Group and Changan Automotive – but the compulsion to share all tech for all cars marketed with their Chinese partners is a step too far for Peugeot.

On the subject of compulsory sharing of the intellectual property on the Hybrid4, PSA’s CFO – Frederic Saint Geours -said “The Chinese government will have to reconsider its position”. So, PSA are waiting for capitulation from the Chinese Government?

Bound to happen.