Peugeot staff share pounds 1.2m bonus

THE 3,000-strong workforce at Coventry-based car maker Peugeot are to share in a pounds 1.2m bonus after the company announced a pounds 53m profit - its best for eight years - and forecast record production this year. The profit triggered an average pounds 240 tax-free payout per employee and allowed Peugeot to pay a pounds 50m dividend to its French parent.

Peugeot sold 181,600 cars in the UK last year, 72,400 of them coming from the Ryton plant. Output will reach 153,000 this year as Ryton introduces a third shift and steps up production of the 206 model to 3,600 a week.