Groupe PSA has officially launched brand Citroen today in India at a press conference in Chennai. The Citroen C5 Aircross SUV was also unveiled today which would be the first model for India from brand Citroen. The company plans to launch the C5 Aircross SUV in India by 2020.
Citroen brands India entry was announced by Mr. Carlos Tavares Chairman of the Managing Board Groupe PSA, Ms. Linda Jackson CEO Citroen Brand and Mr. Emmanual Delay Executive VP and Head Asia Pacific Group PSA. Groupe PSA had joined hands with the CK Birla Group in 2017 and that tie-up paved the way for the french brand to be here in India.
Brand Citroen boasts of over 100 years of lineage and history behind it and has ambitious plans for the Indian market. ‘Inspired by You’ is their brand punchline. The French car maker plans to launch one new car model every year for the next three years. On asked why the C5 Aircross SUV as the first model, Citroen officials said “The first model we launch in India is the latest flagship of Citroen C5Aircross for India. It embodies all Citroen brand values like great design and comfort. Of course it’s a image builder”. The brand also announced that new models would be introduced in India before the world under the C-Cubed Programme which means Cool, Comfort and Clever. The C5 Aircross SUV is the flagship model from Citroen and stand for all the core values of the brand. The brand plans to have 2% market share in the next 5 years.
The engines and transmissions for the C5 Aircross SUV would be locally manufactured in India to bring down costs. Groupe PSA with their Indian partners the CK Birla Group have already setup their unit at Hossur in Tamil Nadu.
The car maker also said that bookings for the C5 Aircross would begin by mid of next year with deliveries starting by end of 2020.