Citroen aims to expand its Indian product portfolio in the next 2-3 years. The French automaker is ready to launch the C3 hatchback with two petrol engines (as reported), which will be followed by its electric iteration and electric people movers (MPV, CUV). Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, has revealed that the company has a vision to garner over 25 percent business from outside of the European Union and North America. It will target the Asia Pacific region and India will be “at the core” of the plan.
In terms of volume, India is already a strategic sourcing hub for powertrains for the company and it will enlarge with the introduction of electric cars. Tavares said that the company is planning to source batteries and cells from India for its global market business. It’s working to increase localization levels of the future product in order to achieve competitive pricing in the country. Citroen’s first electric car has been confirmed for 2023 that will be based on the C3 hatchback.
The upcoming Citroen electric cars will be part of the brand’s C-Cube program under which it will develop international, highly localized models to cater customer expectations. The C3 will be the first car to come under this project, followed by an EV. If reports are to be believed, the company aims to achieve 1 lakh annual production milestone in the mid-term. Major part of the units is likely to be for the export market. Tavares said that the company believes to gain double digit margin and contribute to its long-term vision.
The French automaker has been testing the Citroen Berlingo MPV in the country. If India is on the launch radar, the model will be positioned against the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the newly-launched Kia Carens. In global market, the Berlingo comes in Standard (4400mm) and XL (4750mm) size options. Its engine setup includes a 1.2L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol and a 1.5L diesel unit.
