A spokesperson for Peugeot said recent reports of the diesel hybrid’s total demise are “a little advanced”, adding that there was still a role for the technology in specific models.

“508 is almost solely a fleet car. 3008 [diesel hybrid] was mostly a retail vehicle and that’s why its strengths in the fleet market weren’t best recognised or appreciated whereas 508 is,” he explained.

“Certainly in Europe, probably 10% of the 508 sales are hybrid. It’s just managing where the customer market needs are. We’ve not seen enough demand for 3008 [diesel hybrid] to sustain its life indefinitely.”

Likewise, PSA’s premium brand, DS, which offers the diesel hybrid powertrain in its DS 5 Hybrid4x4, said it has no plans to axe the engine from its range.

However, Peugeot said the group is looking at other alternative drivetrains: “The future focus of development will look at petrol hybrids, not least because petrols are obviously as economical as diesels. But there’s also a bigger market for us in all the world markets where we are operational in, notably China.

“The focus of the future development is more with petrol hybrids where the advantages are greater.”