Citroen will be one of the new car brands that will mark its entry in India next year. The French carmaker has already confirmed that it will start its Indian operations with the Citroen C5 Aircross, followed by the Citroen C21 subcompact SUV. The company is also planning to tap the electric car segment with the Citroen eCC21 (codename) mini SUV in 2022. Once launched, the electric micro SUV will take on the upcoming new Mahindra eKUV100 and the Tata Hornbill. Its prices will start from Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom).
The CK Birla Group’s Thuruvallur based plant in Tamil Nadu will serve as production hub for the ICE Citroen CC21 and electric eCC21 micro SUVs. Just so you know, PSA Groupe and CK Birla Group entered into a partnership in 2017. Both models will underpin Groupe PSA’s CMP (Common Modular Platform) and eCMP platforms respectively. Speculations are on rife that PSA might localise the CMP architecture in future when it enters compact SUV or premium hatchback segments in India.
Globally, the e-CMP platform cars come with a 50kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 100kW electric motor offering WLTP range between 310km – 340km. In India, however, the carmaker might bring in the eCC21 with smaller battery and a more conservative configuration. This will help the brand achieve competitive pricing. Read – Is Citroen Berlingo XL 7-Seater MPV Coming To India
Reports suggest that the Citroen electric mini SUV will come with a 30kWh battery pack. The micro SUV will be designed and developed especially for emerging markets and feature Citroen’s new design language. We have seen spy pictures of the ICE Citroen CC21 mini SUV earlier this year. Its electric iteration will be the first model to be produced under the brand’s C-Cubed low-cost car project. The French carmaker aims to manufacture 3,000 units of electric cars annually and retail 1 lakh units by 2025.
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