Peugeot challenges Piaggio in the maxi-scooter market

Peugeot Motocycles created the event at the 2005 Mondial by announcing its arrival on the growing market of scooters over 125 cc. Presentation of Geopolis and Satelis, both available in 500, 250 and 125 cc.

Large attendance at the Peugeot press conference for the inauguration of the Mondial du 2 Roues: Gerard Pressouyre, CEO of Peugeot Motocycles, creates the event by announcing the arrival of the Sochaux manufacturer on the growing market of scooters of more than 125 CC…

Being the leader on the less than 50 cc market in France is no longer enough for Peugeot, which will launch a 250 cc in 2006 and a 500 cc at the start of 2007. These scooters will be available in two families, Satelis (Grand Tourisme) and Geopolis (Grandes Wheels), which will share the same engines but will display a different design and philosophy.

Satelis, the GT scooter, was designed for the European and French market where the male demand for maxi-scooters is constantly increasing..

The Geopolis model, for its part, is a more manoeuvrable and lighter large-wheel model which Frederic Bart, Satelis and Geopolis product manager at Peugeot Motocycles, confides that it is aimed at "a more mixed target, as in the Italian market for example, where the female clientele is more important and where one in two scooters is a scooter with large wheels".

Unfortunately, no details are currently available on these two new 250 cc atmospheric (22 hp and 19.7 Nm) and 500 cc atmospheric (39 hp and 40.4 Nm) engines that Peugeot is not going to develop on its own, but to buy from a manufacturer for the moment not officially unveiled.

Suddenly, Gerard Pressouyre prefers to insist on the politically correct subject of the year with a formula not devoid of black humor: "safety to death !"

Geopolis and Satelis scooters will therefore benefit from an armada of safety equipment because the automaker makes it a point of honor to take care of the safety of its motorists (and customers!) When they pass on two-wheelers: ABS with assisted braking on all versions, oversized forks up to 40 mm in diameter, brake discs up to 260 mm in diameter, low seat and center of gravity, reinforced chassis, SRA-approved Abus anti-theft chain secured to the frame, large mirrors angle and halogen headlights…

On the practical side – another major competitive argument for scooters! – Peugeot is also going on the offensive by equipping the Satelis range with an automobile-type hatchback, with opening assisted by hydraulic cylinders without the need to shut down the engine. Above all, the storage capacity seems to constitute a record in the category: "two full face helmets + a lock, or two tennis rackets, or a PC case + a lock", etc.

The selling prices of the 250 and 500 versions have not yet been determined but Frederic Bart assures us that they will be "competitive compared to competitors"(sic!)

Peugeot is therefore pulling out the heavy artillery in an attempt to reach its most direct competitor: Piaggio and its X8 and X9, the best sellers in Europe in this vehicle segment. With Satelis and Geopolis, the French group hopes to take off its market share in Europe (currently 2%) and thus erase its connotation "50 to 125" in the world of two-wheelers. Annual goals? "20,000 units across these two ranges, also available in 125 cc"… May the best win !

Fred RENARD – Photos FR, Eric MICHEL and DR

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