HOPES were high this week that the French may be about to announce an expansion of the Ryton plant, currently building the Peugeot 306. According to reports, the expansion decision has already been taken by company president Jacques Calvet but British executives are still waiting to hear the news.

Ryton has always been regarded at the British end, as a two car plant and for some years now it has only been building the 306. It would seem logical that a new line would build the new 106 supermini. Production of the 106 in Britain could however be three years away.