French automakers Renault and Peugeot are looking belatedly to China to revive their flagging fortunes but picked a tough time to try to expand. Three decades after Volkswagen became the first global automaker to produce cars in China in 1984, Renault SA announced plans in December for a Chinese factory. France's biggest auto brand, PSA Peugeot Citroen, in China since the '80s without carving out significant market share, says it will be more aggressive after its local partner, Dongfeng Motor Co., last week agreed to take a 14 percent stake in PSA. Their motivation is clear: Europe's auto sales slumped last year to their lowest level since 1995, forcing French brands to join U.S. and European rivals in looking to China to drive revenues. "PSA is back on the attack," said its chairman, Philippe Varin, in a video distributed by the company. "We will benefit from the support of our Chinese partner."