Citroen India, on Thursday, unveiled the C3 Aircross Midsize-SUV, slated to go on sale later this year. Measuring 4.3m in length and having a 200mm ground clearance, the globally unveiled C3 Aircross is the second product with the C-Cube platform and will be available in five-seater and seven-seater (5+2) options.
Thierry Koskas, CEO, Citroën noted that the brand plans to grow globally by entering high-potential markets with affordable, locally-tailored products. “Our goal is to achieve 30% of sales in international markets outside Europe by 2025,” he added. The company aims to compete with local players while providing an easy ownership journey for our customers, Koskas said.
The company believes that the C3 Aircross is the right vehicle at the right time to enter the fast-growing and highly competitive midsize SUV segment in the Indian market.
Citroen India noted that the midsize SUV is developed and produced locally at the Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu, with over 90% localisation. This allows faster parts availability and an overall lower cost of ownership, ensuring customer satisfaction.
Roland Bouchara, CEO and Managing Director of Stellantis India, noted that the vehicle was designed with insights from Indian customers and developed at Citroën's R&D and engineering centres in India and Europe.
“The vehicle assembly and powertrain plants in Thiruvallur and Hosur respectively will be instrumental in efficiently manufacturing the vehicle in India. Citroën is confident in meeting the requirements of this new group of Indian customers,” he added.
India: A Growing Market For Citroen
Koskas believes India is a very competitive market for the company and acts as a great export base for the brand. With the launch of the C3 Aircross, the company aims to penetrate the Indian market further and increase its market share.
Saurabh Vatsa, Head, Citroen India, noted that the company closed 2022 with 30 sales outlets. The plan from here on is to have 60 sales outlets in 55 cities by the time the C3 Aircorss launches, and by the end of 2024, the company plans to have over 100 sales outlets.
During his presentation, Koskas noted that the Asia Pacific region had witnessed a 57% YoY growth in 2022, while the South American market grew by 21%.
The company had started exports for the C3 recently to ASEAN and African regions, while in terms of domestic sales, the B-segment hatch has sold over 9,000 units so far. The global CEO believes India is a great competitive base for production, thus acting as a proper base for exports.
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