Recently, media outlets reported that an owner of a Peugeot 508 sought repairs at a Dongfeng Peugeot 4S dealership earlier this year. However, due to the suspension of supply from three key component suppliers and the manufacturer's inability to provide original parts, the vehicle has remained unrepaired in accordance with regulations and has been parked for nearly six months.

This incident has once again thrust Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen’s fragile after-sales service system into the spotlight. In fact, after-sales service issues have plagued Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen owners for years.

A limited number of service outlets and extended waiting times for parts are almost universal grievances among French-brand vehicle owners.

It is widely acknowledged that after peaking in 2015, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen experienced a prolonged downturn, with sales plummeting from 710,000 units to just 51,500 units by 2025.

The continuous decline in sales has led to dealership closures, as many were unable to cover their operational costs, resulting in a noticeable contraction of the after-sales service network.

According to public data from a certain vertical platform, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen currently has 412 authorized dealers nationwide. At its peak, the number exceeded 900. In major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, there are now only around four or five dealers each, with many prefecture-level cities having just one dealer on average.

This means that vehicle owners in many regions must travel tens or even hundreds of kilometers for routine maintenance or minor repairs, incurring significant time and travel expenses.

It is also reported that, in addition to the limited number of dealerships, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen’s spare parts inventory is relatively constrained.

Due to its low market presence, aftermarket parts suppliers lack the incentive to produce, leading to a high reliance on original parts, many of which must be sourced from Europe.

Waiting times for parts range from one or two weeks to one or two months. A C5 X owner once reported that a special part needed to replace a faulty driveshaft had to be ordered from France, resulting in a nearly month-long wait.

To ensure after-sales support for vehicle owners, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen has made significant strides. In 2024, the company partnered with JD.com, authorizing eligible JD Auto Care stores to provide after-sales services for Dongfeng Peugeot and Dongfeng Citroen vehicles.

In late November 2025, the Dongfeng Peugeot and Citroen apps for vehicle owners simultaneously launched a campaign to solicit trusted French-brand repair shops to join the official after-sales system.

In April 2026, Dongfeng Citroen and Dongfeng Peugeot signed a cooperation agreement with Tuhu Auto Care, leveraging its 8,000 stores to address issues such as the scarcity of service outlets and repair difficulties. However, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen’s approach has also raised some concerns.

Some critics argue that the original 4S store system represents not only professionalism but also parts assurance, service experience, and brand loyalty. No matter how standardized Tuhu stores are or how skilled their technicians may be, they are ultimately ‘outsourced’ services.

When a brand must rely on third-party platforms to resolve after-sales service issues, it amplifies consumers' core concerns when purchasing a vehicle: whether long-term, stable, and professional after-sales support can truly be relied upon.

Nevertheless, there is hope that Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen’s after-sales maintenance services may see a turnaround. In May this year, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, along with Changjiang Industrial Investment Group, Wuhan Financial Holdings Group, Wuhan Economic Development Industrial Investment Group, Stellantis Group, and Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen, completed a signing ceremony for an investment exceeding 8 billion yuan. This move is seen by outsiders as a potential turning point for Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen.

It is reported that the combination of capital infusion and the continuous implementation of channel strategies has significantly expanded Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen’s terminal network.

Since May, the dual-brand 4S network of Dongfeng Peugeot and Dongfeng Citroen has added 18 new and contracted stores. The 30 previously identified cooperation outlets are also accelerating their implementation.

Reports also indicate that Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen has attracted interest from over 50 channel investors and will continue to intensify its channel construction efforts.

Of course, some critics argue that for many Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen owners struggling with after-sales maintenance, their primary concern may not be grand strategic plans but whether they can find a reliable store nearby on their mobile app that provides original parts and can repair their vehicle within a day or two the next time a similar issue arises.

More importantly, while expanding its after-sales channels, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen should also focus on boosting sales, establishing a robust parts supply chain system, and ensuring the sustained profitability of dealers and suppliers to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Resolving ‘repair difficulties’ is just the first step. The longer and more challenging path to sustainable development lies in making ‘French-brand vehicles’ a reliable choice for purchase and use once again.

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