Playing the sales goal stakes in China is a high pressure game, the first to move is always the big looser. Dongfeng Peugeot announced yesterday that they would drop their sales goal from 240,000 units in 2012 to 230,000 units, a move that is unusual to say the least. Peugeot are planning to focus on the 508 mid size sedan as a big mover in 2012, the 508 was launched earlier this year and seems to be gaining momentum in the sales charts although it is still far behind classic sales winners such as the VW Passat.

In 2011 Peugeot sold 174,000 vehicles, for 2012 they increased their sales goal by 40% to 240,000 vehicles, however in the first 5 months of 2012 only 88,000 vehicles had been sold. To hit their proposed 2012 goal Peugeot would have to sell 45% of its vehicles in the first half and 55% in the second half with June sales having to reach a minimum of 20,000 units, a nigh on impossible task in a what is usually a poor month for car sales.