PSA Group is France's Leading Patent Filer for the Ninth Year in a Row

PSA Group maintained its position as France's leading patent filer in 2015, topping the French National Institute of Industrial Property's (INPI) annual list with 1,012 patents filed.






Thanks to the performance of its teams and its efficient Research and Development choices, PSA Group filed more than one thousand patents in 2015, thereby advancing the Group's innovation strategy in three key areas: clean technologies, autonomous and connected vehicles and Peugeot, Citroën and DS brand attractiveness.






In 2015, PSA Group devoted €1.8 billion to Research and Development. These innovations demonstrate the Group's commitment to offering sustainable solutions while helping to respond to the mobility challenges of the future.






PSA Group, a player in new mobility solutions
Innovative mobility solutions represent substantial research and more than 250 patents to date.




In the area of self-driving cars, more than 130 patents have been filed to achieve the shift from standard to semi-autonomous to fully-autonomous mode. In particular, these inventions cover human-machine interface (HMI), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and adapted interior equipment. Several Citroën C4 Picassos with autonomous driving capabilities have driven over 20,000 kilometres on open road, demonstrating the Group's know how.




In the area of connected vehicles, PSA Group filed more than 60 patents. One notable development is Car Easy Apps, a software platform that will serve as a base for future car-related smartphone applications. In telematic services, PSA Group is a pioneer in emergency call and automated assistance systems that automatically alert first responders in the event of an accident. To date, more than 1.8 million vehicles have been equipped.




PSA Group, at the forefront of technologies for reducing fuel consumption and emissions
With average fleet CO2 emissions of 104.4 g per km in 2015, PSA Group affirmed its position as European leader in reducing carbon emissions. Numerous innovations concern powertrains. For example:
The 3-cylinder EB Turbo PureTech petrol engine, which was voted International Engine of the Year 2015 in its category, has benefited from no less than 120 patents. The engine uses 18% less fuel and emits 18% less CO2 than its predecessors.




PSA Group is also committed to excellence in the technologies that equip its diesel engine pollution abatement systems. The Blue HDi exhaust line eliminates 99.9% of the particulates and up to 90% of the nitrogen oxides produced by the engine. More than 100 patents have been filed for this Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology combined with an additive Diesel Particulate Filter, notably for urea injection management and tank design.




Commenting on the INPI ranking, Gilles Le Borgne, PSA Group Executive Vice President, Research and Development, said: "PSA Group is France's leading patent filer for the ninth year in a row. This performance illustrates the involvement and agility of the Group's teams and demonstrates our commitment to meeting our customers' needs and expectations."





*This PSA Group news was extracted from PSA Group Bulletin published on 06/04/2016.