Citroen is all set to join the EV space in India. The carmaker will launch an all-electric compact car by 2023. Currently, the French manufacturer only has one model on sale in India, the C5 Aircross. The C5 Aircross never really took off the way the company expected. Also limiting the car’s appeal is the limited dealership and after-sales network. Citroen’s next model for India is the C3 hatchback. The company will launch the new quirky-designed car in July this year. The vehicle will be sub-4-metre in length and compete with the likes of Tata Punch, Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet.
The Citroen C3’s launch is already expected for some time. However, the big surprise from the carmaker is an all-electric compact car. According to reports, the new electric car could arrive as early as 2023. The company will also ramp up its dealer network to ensure the limited dealership network is not an issue. Thus, helping Citroen cater to the higher sales volumes of the new mass-market models.
The CEO of Stellantis Group mentioned that the company will engineer the electric cars in India and will arrive next year. Furthermore, he added that the new smart-car programme is known as the C-cubed programme. The programme will see Citroen’s CMP platform-based affordable compact cars. Additionally, India will serve as the global production base for these cars. The exact details of the new sub-4-metre electric vehicle are unknown. However, we know the car will use the C3 as its base platform. Additionally, multiple other models with different body styles will join the compact EV. Citroen’s next EV cars will be an MPV and a CUV.
The CEO confirmed that the pandemic delayed the launch of the C3. However, he says the launch plan for the EV is right on track.
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