Peugeot at the Cutting Edge of Automotive Technology in Europe

PARIS, FRANCE – March 24, 2009: With 961 patent applications in 2008, PSA Peugeot has been designated by France’s National Institute for Industrial Property as the country’s leading patent filer for the second year in a row.

The Group’s first-place ranking attests to its strong focus on innovation and to the quality of its research and development teams. In its commitment to maintaining its assertive, ambitious strategy of renewing the product portfolio, PSA Peugeot has once again ramped up its capacity for innovation with the goal of developing vehicles that are cleaner, safer, more energy efficient and more affordable.

Patents filed in 2008 were primarily related to projects in four main areas:

Improving petrol and diesel internal combustion engines.

Deploying second-generation Stop & Start technology by 2010.

Deploying a full HDi hybrid by 2011.

Stepping up the development of technologies for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and zero-emission vehicles.

Other patents involved vehicle bodies and structural solutions that reduce overall weight and improve impact-resistance and safety. PSA Peugeot’s patent leadership also reflects the success of a patent policy, introduced in 2001, that recognizes and rewards engineers and technicians. In 2008, the Group allocated €2.1 billion to research and development, representing 5.1% of automotive turnover and an increase of €300 million over 2007.