CITROËN ACCELERATES GROWTH IN INDIA, SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA: LOCALLYENGINEERED AND BUILT, ALLNEW C3 AIRCROSS SUV IS TOUGH OUTSIDE AND CARING INSIDE
All-New C3 Aircross is, above all, unmistakably a Citroën, and at the same time a pure B-SUV which will compete at the heart of each market by offering car buyers compelling value in a tailor-made package combining unique and muscular design, with Citroën comfort signature and well-being, plus versatility for up to 7 people. This new SUV model and the already launched compact New C3 represent key steps in Citroën’s international growth strategy, under which the brand is targeting 30 percent of its global vehicle sales to be in regions and markets outside of Europe by 2025. India, South-East Asia and South America are high-potential and fast-growing markets that will positively contribute to Citroën’s international ambitions. In 2022, the brand’s Asian and Asian Pacific registrations increased by 56.9% compared with 2021 and those in South America rose by 21.2%. In India, Citroën achieved 6,588 registrations in 2022 (an increase of 872.6%), while in Brazil they increased by 37.6% (32,128) and in Argentina by 11.3% (13,846).
Citroën’s brand presence in these two regions has been boosted by the successful launch of the New C3 compact hatchback. All-New C3 Aircross is the second in a family of three new models specifically aimed at international growing markets under Citroën’s C-Cubed programme, announced in 2019, and being marketed between 2022 and 2024. One essential point is that the B-SUV is developed and produced locally – at the Thiruvallur plant in India and in Porto Real, Brazil, with a 90% level of content integration, ensuring customers’ satisfaction through an offer perfectly matched to their needs, faster parts availability and overall lower cost of ownership. Unmistakably Citroën, All-New C3 Aircross is a tough and distinctive SUV available in both 5-seater and 7-seater versions and targeted for launch in India and South America from late 2023. From 2024, it will also be launched in Indonesia, a new market for Citroën’s business, announced in October 2022, and operated in partnership with Indomobil Group as sole distributor.
RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PRODUCT
Citroën has worked hard to ensure the 4.32m long, 5- and 7-seater All-New C3 Aircross is the right vehicle at the right time to enter the fast-growing and highly competitive B-SUV segment in the Indian, Indonesian and South American markets. In INDIA, the B-SUV segment is divided into two, based on the taxes applied to vehicle length. Sales of models longer than 4m increased by 32% in 2022 compared to 2021, reaching 366,432 units. It accounts for nearly 9.9% of the passenger vehicle market which represents about 4 million units sold annually. Along with the growth in the number of drivers over recent years, the number of vehicles offered in the B-SUV subsegment also increased, making it extremely competitive.
