First half revenues reached 30.82m euros (£20.64m), up from 29.09m euros for the same period in 2006.

Operating profit rose by 22 per cent, helped by an improved operating margin of 2.7 per cent in the first half of 2007 that rose from 2.4 per cent a year ago.

First-half net profit reached 492m euros (£330m), up from 306m euros in the same period in 2006.

Peugeot said it expected a margin for the second half of 2007 of at least 2 per cent, up from 1.6 per cent last year.