Members of various Peugeot, Citroen and DS car clubs (mostly from the Klang Valley) were invited by Stellantis Malaysia to its assembly plant in Gurun, Kedah for a tour of the facility and also test some of the current and future models.
The 40 club members who attended were welcomed by COO for ASEAN Daniel Gonzalez and Stellantis Malaysia MD Jamie Morais, and their team.
The half-hour tour of the plant was interesting and gave an insight into how the cars are put together (unfortunately, pictures could not be taken).
Then came the test-drive session on different courses around the plant. The models available for testing were the 2008, 3008 and 5008 which are currently assembled in Malaysia as well as the Landtrek pick-up truck to be assembled soon. There was also the new 408GT which will be launched during the next quarter.
Most of the members have never driven or owned pick-up trucks let alone go off-road, so it was a new experience for them to drive the Landtrek on the simulated off-road course which allowed them to see its capabilities.
The 408GT was the one that was of most interest to everyone since it’s the first time this new model is available for testing, and we were lucky to do so even before its launch (and even before the media!). The car itself was superb, showing its dynamic performance on the slalom course and other tests. We also tried the braking capabilities of all he models which were very good.
We also had a chance to look at some of the latest models from Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Citroen. Whether they will be offered in the market in future remains to be seen.
Before ending the day, Mr. Gonzalez held a dialogue session with the attendees with the aim of seeking direct feedback on how Stellantis can bring the marques under its care to greater heights.
Although a little too early to judge, it does seem Stellantis is serious about doing the right things.
(Special thanks to Amin Razalli for words and pictures)
Stellantis Malaysia call centre for Citroen, Peugeot and DS Automobile brands
