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Peugeot has confirmed that its two upcoming flagship electric vehicles, developed in collaboration with Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng, will not be offered in Europe, even though they will embody the full design and driving character of the French brand.

Earlier this year, Peugeot unveiled two concept models at the Beijing Motor Show, providing a preview of its future premium, large-sized electric vehicles. These models are being developed in partnership with Dongfeng and will make use of the Chinese company’s platforms and powertrains.

One of these concepts is a sleek estate car reminiscent of the now-discontinued Peugeot 508, while the other is a large SUV, set to become Peugeot’s biggest production vehicle to date. Both models are targeted primarily at the Chinese market and selected export regions, but Europe is not among them, as confirmed by Peugeot CEO Alain Favey.

When asked how Peugeot intends to maintain its European quality standards in vehicles built with Dongfeng, Favey clarified: “We are developing the cars together with Dongfeng, so it is a partnership. We are not simply rebadging Dongfeng cars.”

He added that the collaboration will ensure that the new flagship models remain “real Peugeots,” with the French brand taking complete control over the exterior and interior design. “I think we will ensure through this partnership that the cars are authentic Peugeots in their design and in-cabin experience – so they will indeed be real Peugeots,” he said.

However, Favey also made it clear that neither of these vehicles will be introduced in Europe. “These cars are not planned for launch in Europe – neither of the two. So the question of whether they meet the expectations of European customers does not arise, because our customers in Europe will not be able to buy these cars,” he stated.

According to Favey, Peugeot aims to meet the desires of its customers outside Europe with these new models, rather than attempting to disrupt the large electric vehicle segment in its home market. He explained that both models are larger than any Peugeot currently sold in Europe because their dimensions and proportions are “perfectly suited to the heart of the Chinese market.”

With these Dongfeng-based EVs excluded from its European lineup, Peugeot will instead focus on expanding its range of models built on Stellantis platforms by 2030 as part of its strategy to grow its market presence. The upcoming lineup will include the next-generation e-208 supermini, the next 308 hatchback, and three new C-segment models to be manufactured in France.