French automaker Peugeot SA revenue rose 1% in the third quarter, with pricing and product mix helping offset a drop in unit sales and adverse foreign exchange fluctuations, the company said in a trading update Oct. 23.

The group posted revenue of €15.58 billion in the July-September period compared with €15.43 billion in the same quarter of 2018 with a contribution of €11.82 billion from the automotive division where sales rose by 0.1%.

Worldwide vehicle sales totaled 674,000 in the quarter, down 4% from 702,000 a year prior. Inventory, including stock held by importers and independent dealers, fell by 29,000 units year over year to 574,000.

Among the group's brands, Citroen posted a 7.8% sales increase in Europe, which is by far PSA's biggest market, while Peugeot sales fell 6.1% in the region. Sales of both brands plunged by close to 40% in China, some of which was offset by rising sales in the Middle East and Africa region.

The group's auto parts affiliate Faurecia SE, in which PSA holds a 47% stake, increased revenues by 4.3% to €4.19 billion in the quarter.

The automaker maintained its target operating profit margin of 4.5% on average across the 2019-2021 period.