Peugeot Ireland is planning to sell some 1,500 units of its new 508 in 2012, and 450 this year because the arrival of the car in Ireland has come too late for the main buying period, writes Brian Byrne.
The 508 is on sale from €24,850 for the Access grade, but the company expects that most of the sales will come from the middle Active grade, which starts at €27,300.
The new car comes in saloon and SW formats, with 1.6 and 2.0 diesels in Band B for tax purposes.
ESP is among the standard specification through the range, and the importers say they are offering higher levels of equipment when compared to similarly priced competitors.
More than 60 percent of sales by Peugeot in Ireland this year have been to buyers new to the brand.
And with the 508 it is hoped that the brand will make significant penetration to the key fleet market here.
Though the new car is only marginally larger on the outside than the 407 it replaces, interior space, especially in the back, is much better, thanks to a longer wheelbase.
The Irish distributors say there has been 'very positive feedback' from the fleet sector here, which was given a pre-launch introduction to the car last October.
Pictured at today's launch of the car in Dublin are Emma Toner, Communications Manager of Gowan Distributors and George Harbourne, MD Gowan Distributors.
