PSA Peugeot Citroen is building a new assembly plant in Slovakia that will be capable of producing 300,000 cars a year when it starts in 2006.

The company said the new plant brings its manufacturing base closer to the markets where it is strengthening its presence.

It says that in Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia it has increased its market share to 12.7% in 2002 from 5% five years ago.

PSA Peugeot Citroen is targeting sales of more than four million vehicles in 2006, compared with 3,267,000 in 2002 and 2,100,000 in 1997.