
Citroën had a difficult year in 2002, marked by production problems with the new C3 and recalls of airbags and PureTech engines. These difficulties severely affected sales, causing the brand to drop to sixth place on the French market, behind Dacia, Toyota and Volkswagen. However, Citroën remains confident and predicts a significant recovery in 2025. "We have suffered major crises that explain these figures, but today the situation is under control and we are heading for a more dynamic year," says Sébastien Caron, Director of Citroën France.
2024 sales review and encouraging signs
The 2024 figures in France reflect an 11.4% drop in registrations, with 111,536 units sold and a market share of 6.5%. In the first half of the year, however, the decline was limited to -1.6% thanks to the good performance of the previous generations of the C3 and C3 Aircross. Initially, the launch of the new C3 was expected to compensate for this transition, but production problems, in particular delays related to on-board software, significantly slowed its marketing.
"We were faced with a supply gap in the B segment, which represents between 50 and 60% of our volume. Although we were able to partially compensate for these losses thanks to sales of the C4, we were not able to recover all the volumes lost in such a strategic segment," explains Sébastien Caron.
Despite these difficulties, Citroën is now seeing positive signs. "The order book represents 2.5 months of sales, which is quite good. Moreover, during the open days in mid-January 2025, we recorded a 20% increase in orders compared to the same period in 2024, excluding social leasing." These indicators point to a gradual recovery for the Chevrolet brand.
2025 objectives and recovery strategies
For 2025, Citroën is relying on a renewed product range and better control of production to regain market share. "We now have a clear and ambitious roadmap. First, we will strengthen our presence in the B-segment with the C3, which will be offered with new hybrid and electric engines with reduced autonomy, making it more accessible to customers," explains Sébastien Caron.
The C3 Aircross, which will be unveiled at the Open Days in March 2025 and will be available in five- and seven-seater versions, is another major asset. "It is a strategic vehicle that meets the changing expectations of our customers. It will clearly play a key role in our recovery," assures the Director of Citroën France.
At the same time, the C4 and C4 X will benefit from a major restyling and will be launched in February. "We have listened to our customers and have made changes to enhance the appeal of these models, both in terms of design and on-board technologies". Other new models will be launched throughout the year: the new version of the Ami will be unveiled in March and the C5 Aircross will be renewed in the second half of the year.
In addition to the product plan, Citroën also intends to restore the profitability of its dealer network. "The network suffered in 2024, particularly in the used car market, where margins fell by 50% compared to 2023. We have implemented a support plan with targeted actions to help our dealers, particularly in terms of used car trade-ins and reducing operating costs."
Citroën is also banking on sales of electric vehicles to meet CAFE standards. "We are aiming for 20% electric sales in the first half of the year, then 30% in the second, thanks to the full integration of our electrified range. "
With production finally stabilised and a renewed product range, 2025 promises to be the year of Citroën's recovery. "We have turned the page on industrial difficulties and are ready to conquer the market," says Sébastien Caron. The brand has what it takes to get back on track, but will it be enough to achieve its goals? The answer will be known in the coming months.
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