Citroen India has announced a few cosmetic and equipment upgrades for the Basalt, Aircross and C3 models. Sales of all three cars have been rather dismal, but the French carmaker hopes to spruce things up with this model intervention. A specific launch timeline, however, is still awaited.
- C3, Basalt and Aircross to get new features, design updates
- Dealership network to also increase up to 150 outlets by 2025-end
What to expect from Citroen’s updates?
Citroen says the updates will be in the form of new design flourishes as well as new tech and comfort-enhancing features. The carmaker says it has listened to customer feedback and has even incorporated inputs from its India-based engineering teams, which means there could be updates to suit the local taste. But the exact nature of these updates is unknown.
The C3, Basalt and Aircross are all very well-engineered products with solid underpinnings, but they failed to catch the fancy of Indian buyers because of one major drawback – lack of features. And this, in particular, is the strength of the bestselling models in these categories. Citroen has been struggling to sell even 1,000 units a month for all three models combined, so the updates will have to be really significant to stir some customer interest.
Citroen to expand dealership and after-sales network
Part of the reason for Citroen’s dismal sales is the brand’s limited dealership footprint and awareness. Currently, the company operates 80 touchpoints across the country, but it plans to expand its network to 150 outlets by the end of this year. The expansion will particularly be focused on tier-II and tier-III cities, where Citroen’s relatively affordable position could give it a competitive advantage. After all, this is where the main volume players – Maruti, Hyundai and Tata – really dominate.
“We’re aligning closer than ever with Indian customers through locally engineered products, deeper network reach and a relentless focus on quality and customer centricity. This is not about quick wins – it’s about sustainable growth,” said Shailesh Hazela, CEO & MD of Stellantis India, in an official statement.
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Maruti’s new Hyundai Creta rival to get petrol, CNG, hybrid options
