AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)08/06 Report--

After the French PSA Group's high-end brand DS released the new car official map earlier, DS officially announced that DS9 will be launched in China on August 6 and is expected to be officially launched in the second half of 2020. The new car is based on the EMP2 platform and is positioned as a medium-sized sedan. In the future, the new car will only be produced in China and will be sold to the global market in the future.

DS9 uses the latest family design language in appearance, with a woven mesh texture in the hexagonal grille, headlights connected to the front grille, and turn lights on both sides. In addition, the center of the hood is inlaid with a "Sword of Paris" decoration to highlight its special identity. From the side, the DS9 body is designed in a slippery-back coupe style, with a waistline running from the hood across the front and rear doors to the taillights. In terms of size, the DS9 is positioned as a medium-sized car with a length, width and height of 4933mm/1855mm/1468mm and a wheelbase of 2895mm.

DS9 is similar to DS7 in interior design, using simple design techniques. The center console is equipped with a large LCD central control screen and a full liquid crystal instrument, with a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a unique electronic handle. In addition, the top of the center console is also equipped with a "Clous de Paris"-inspired case carved clock, while the vehicle start button is also installed here. In terms of configuration, the new car is equipped with L2-level driving assistance system, including ACC adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, night vision mode, driver fatigue monitoring and other functions.

In terms of power, the DS 9 will be equipped with a plug-in hybrid system. The new car's power system is based on a 1.6T engine with a total power of 228hp, with a pure electric range of 40-50km under WLTP conditions and an eight-speed automatic transmission. In the future, DS 9 will also launch a high-performance version of 253hp and 365hp + all-wheel drive.

In recent years, French cars have had a particularly difficult life in the Chinese market and have been living in a relatively low profile. According to the data, global sales of the PSA Group (including Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel and Vauxhall) fell 10 per cent to 3.49 million vehicles in 2019, with the largest decline in the Chinese market segment, with Peugeot falling 55.7 per cent to 63600, Citroen 55.3 per cent to 51000, Opel 57.3 per cent to 248and DS 46.6 per cent to 2110.

In terms of performance, the operating income of PSA Group increased by 1% to 74.731 billion euros (about 571.7 billion yuan) in 2019, and the net profit attributed to listed companies increased by 13.2% to 3.201 billion euros (about 24.4 billion yuan). According to the data, both operating income and net profit increased, but PSA suffered losses and writedowns of 700 million euros (5.4 billion yuan) in China due to a sharp decline in sales in the domestic market.

As a high-end brand of PSA Group, sales of DS in China are also "unbearable". It is understood that prior to the joint venture between PSA Group and Changan Automobile Group, Changan PSA, which mainly produces its DS brand models, was in a state of loss for a long time due to poor sales. PSA Group and Changan Automobile Group sold the joint venture company to Baoneng Automobile one after another. In May 2020, Changan PSA has formally completed the industrial and commercial change, and its name has been changed to "Shenzhen Baoneng Automobile Co., Ltd.". After the change, the company has changed from a Sino-French joint venture to a wholly owned subsidiary of Shenzhen Qianhai Ruizhi Investment Co., Ltd. However, from this point of view of the appearance of the new car, the tail label is still affixed with the word "Changan Aisi".

Although PSA Group's sense of presence in the domestic market is getting weaker and weaker, and even the joint venture company will be sold, PSA Group has stressed more than once that the DS brand will not withdraw from the market, and the DS9 brought by this time can also be regarded as the "last stubbornness" of DS's development in China. In terms of price, the current price range of DS7 is 20.89-319900 yuan. As a new flagship model of DS, it is expected that the price will not be lower than that of DS7. Will DS have enough advantages in terms of this price?

In the first half of 2020, the DS brand sold a total of 153 vehicles in China, compared with 2058 in the same period last year, down 91.06% from a year earlier, according to the Federation of passengers.

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