Citroen wants to conquer the intercontinental automotive world in the footsteps of Fiat, Renault and Volkswagen. Especially for the emerging markets in India and South America, the French want to bring a local cheap C3 to customers that doesn’t look cheap.
In Europe alone, no flower pot can be won in the automotive industry in the long term. The former PSA brands in the new Stellantis brand structure must become more intercontinental and win new buyers in Asia or across the Atlantic. Since the North American market is already covered by corporate brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram, the particularly price-sensitive markets in South and Central America are of particular importance. With compact models like the Citroen C3, Stellantis wants to cut a bigger piece of the global pie.
The Citroen C3 is initially intended to attract new customers in India, currently the third largest single market in the world. “The new C3 is an essential part of this international expansion and the first stage of the growth strategy. The vehicle, which is less than four meters long, is aimed at an important segment in India and South America,” says Citroen CEO Vincent Cobée, “modern, connected and aimed at the Tailored to local needs, the new C3 is perfectly suited to support Citroen’s growth. ” To ensure that the customer’s requirements fit, Citroen has adapted the process and transferred part of the design and development to the teams in the two regions in order to create a vehicle that is tailor-made for these regions. This is to ensure that the C3 is specifically geared to the special needs of customers in India and South America.
The new C3 is the first model in the so-called “C-Cubed program”, which will bring three internationally oriented vehicles onto the market by 2024. The Citroen C3 is not only partially adapted in India and South America, but also locally manufactured there. “C3 is our brand name for all of our B-segment models around the world, which does not mean that they are the same model everywhere. The new C3 is different from the European version as its design is inspired by the countries in which it is located to offer a unique solution that fully expresses Citroen’s identity, “Vincent Cobée. More than four million new vehicles are expected to be sold in India in 2025. Every fourth vehicle comes from the price-sensitive B-segment and thus well below the C5 Aircross that Citroen has been offering on the subcontinent since this year. Production and sales are done together with cooperation partner CK Birla. The new Indian Citroen C3 is manufactured in Chennai, India.
Almost at the same time, the Citroen C3, modified accordingly, will also be launched in South America in spring 2022. The C4 Cactus, positioned one class above, is currently being produced in the Porto Real plant and offered in Argentina and Brazil. The new C3 rolls off the assembly line in Porto Real, Brazil, and is expected to hit the heart of the B segment as well as in India. The B segment accounts for almost 30 percent of the total market in Brazil and almost 26 percent in Argentina. The C3 will also be available in South American countries such as Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador from the middle of next year.
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