Taken over by Chrysler Europe in 1967 and then by PSA Group in 1978, it shut in December 2006, and was subsequently redeveloped by Trenport Investments Ltd, for industrial use in March 2007.

The plan required the construction and development of nine new factories, and investment in the expansion or the capability of the United Kingdom's existing motor vehicle manufacturing plants, to enable them to more quickly turn to aircraft production.

Ryton from that point onward, effectively became a shadow plant to the Simca factory at Poissy in France, which broadly produced exactly the same models.

Chrysler itself entered financial difficulties, and in 1978 sold the plant, along with the rest of its European operations for a symbolic US$1.00 to PSA Peugeot Citroën.

In spite of this decision, the future of the Ryton plant was secured by Peugeot deciding to produce its own models there.

Both the 309 and 405 had helped boost Peugeot's market share within the United Kingdom during the second half of the 1980s, building on the sales success which began with the launch of the French built 205 from 1983.