It has not even been a month since Citroen launched the C3 in India. And it has been less than a week since the French brand started delivering the C3. However, there are new reports coming in that Citroen is working on an all-electric version of the C3 hatchback. Sources suggest that Citroen will unveil its first EV for India in December 2022 and that it will go on sale around April 2023. There’s no word on the pricing yet but expect it to be around the INR 13 lakh mark.
The ICE Citroen C3, which recently went on sale in India, uses a highly-localised version of Stellantis’ global modular CMP platform. The platform is also EV-ready, and Stellantis already uses it for EVs internationally. There is no confirmation on what specs the Indian electric C3 will have. However, expect it to get a single motor powering the front wheels. There’s also a possibility that Citroen could offer multiple battery sizes.
In the international market, Opel’s Corsa-e uses the same Stellantis platform. The Corse-e gets a 50 kWh battery pack and a range of 362 km in Europe. It is likely India will get the same powertrain and battery pack option. This should give the electric hatchback a range of around 300 to 350 km. There could also be support for fast charging.
Since the all-electric C3 would demand a price premium over the ICE version, it is likely that Citroen will offer more equipment. The petrol-powered C3 currently misses out on many features. These include a rear washer and wiper, wireless phone charger, automatic climate control and cruise control. Hence, Citroen could add all these features to the electric C3. Currently, the C3 comes with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. Expect this feature to be carried over without any changes.
When it launches in India, the model will directly compete with the Tigor EV. However, it will also go up against other models like the Tata Altroz EV and MG’s compact EV when they arrive on the market.
Also Read: New Citroën C3 deliveries begin in India