Peugeot, Renault see auto output plummet

Production by France's leading car makers, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault, plunged in the first quarter on the back of slowing demand in Europe, trade data showed Tuesday. A report by France's industry group for auto makers, CCFA, said Peugeot's domestic production of cars and light trucks fell by a whopping 35.7 percent in the January-March period compared with the same period a year ago, and by 18.8 percent outside of France. Renault's domestic manufacturing fell 23.7 percent, and by 7.9 percent on a global scale, with the fall being partly cushioned by its low-cost Romanian brand Dacia which is assembled in Romania and Morocco. French car makers have in recent years suffered badly from a decline in demand, particularly in Europe.