Goal only 4.5%
PSA said its 4.5 percent average margin goal for the 2019-2021 period would henceforth include the less profitable Opel-Vauxhall division, effectively raising the benchmark.
Chief Financial Officer Philippe de Rovira said the conservative "all-weather" objective covered the potential scenario in which Britain crashes out of the European Union in a no-deal "hard Brexit," as well as other market setbacks.
PSA's relatively confident tone was in contrast to its domestic rival Renault, which set out earlier in February a weaker full-year profit goal.
The Peugeot-Citroen-DS (PCD) division, housing its legacy French brands, reported a record 8.4 percent margin as sales rose 18.9 percent despite adverse currency moves and higher raw-material costs. Opel-Vauxhall (OV) recorded a 4.7 percent margin on sales of 18.31 billion euros.
India, Russia sales
In addition to the new margin goal, Tavares unveiled steps to address the group's increased dependence on Europe - which now accounts for 80 percent of global vehicle sales in the wake of the Opel acquisition.
The Citroen brand will launch in India as Opel returns to Russia in pursuit of a 50 percent group sales increase outside Europe by 2021, PSA said
PSA's long-promised return to the North American market will be led by the Peugeot brand.