PSA Boosts Production of Peugeot 308

PSA Peugeot Citroen says it will hire 600 workers two-thirds of them on a temporary basis to add a third production shift for its just-introduced Peugeot 308 five-door hatch and wagon.

Earlier this month the 308 was named Europe's Car of the Year at the Geneva auto show. PSA says it has received 60,000 pre-orders for the car.

The hatch will go into production in June at Sochaux, France, a facility that last added workers three years ago. PSA has been eliminating some 11,200 jobs in France to help align capacity with demand.

Analysts say the hirings at Sochaux may signal the beginning of PSA's long-sought turnaround. The company's sales grew 7% in January, surpassing the European market's 5% expansion, according to industry group ACEA.