Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company LTD (DPCA), the Chinese JV holding company for PSA Group and Dongfeng, announced this week that they will revive the defunct brand Citroen Fukang as a standalone brand to specialize in new energy vehicles. Fukang will unveil its first EV sedan at the Chengdu Motor Show 2018. The EV sedan is set to hot the market at the end of 2018 and will be followed by an SUV in 2019.

The French auto manufacturer, PSA Group, moved its EV plans into second gear this week as it created a dedicated business unit dedicated to its EV strategy. The new unit will be managed by Alexandre Guignard who will be responsible for the global roll-out of the PSAs plans to electrify its entire range by 2025 from 2019. The Low Emission Vehicles Business Unit as it is called will also be responsible for PSA meeting its European CO2 emissions levels from 2020.

Even foreign brands are not spared, state-owned Changan this week had to approve a 1.8 billion yuan ($285 million) bailout for PSA’s local Citroen DS venture after suffering a 68% drop in sales in 2017 which contributes to the company technically becoming insolvent. The funds will be used to realign the lossmaking 50/50 JV and to develop EV models. Most automakers are now focussing on EV development as a way to yet again use state incentives to prop up their finances. Changan also announced a 50/50 JV with Mazda to develop EVs where the local operator will supply the technology and the Japanese automaker the body. The first EV from the JV will be a compact crossover in 2019.

French PSA Group which include Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel, and Vauxhall also explained its electrification plans at the Detroit Auto Show during the Automotive News World Congress. According to PSA CEO, Carlos Tavares, the company aims to electrify its full line of cars and light-truck by 2025 and nearly all its models will have self-driving capabilities by 2030. The result is that PSA will launch 40 electrified models across its brands by 2025.

Pro EV Opel CEO, Dr. Karl Neumann, is replaced by PSA Group Finance Chief Michael Lobscheller clouding Opel’s EV plans in uncertainty.

On the eve of the Geneva Auto Show, the PSA Group and GM announced the sale of Opel and Vauxhall brands to PSA Peugeot Citroën. The transaction is valued at £1.9 billion, making PSA the second biggest automaker in Europe. GM CEO, Mary Barra, indicated the two companies could still co-operate on electric vehicle and fuel cell technology.

It is uncertain how the acquisition would influence Opel CEO, Dr. Karl Neumann’s plans to change Opel to an all-electric brand.