Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross: a conquering duo with more than 100,000 orders in Europe

Citroën has orchestrated an almost complete renewal of its range in just two years, an impressive momentum that now touches the heart of the market. The new generations of the C3 and C3 Aircross embody this major offensive, with the clear ambition of significantly strengthening the brand's presence in the B-segment, one of Europe's most competitive and high-volume market categories. These strategic launches aim to capture a new customer base while retaining brand loyalists, thanks to a refreshed proposition focused on design, comfort, and attractive pricing.

A flying commercial start for the B-segment tandem

Since the beginning of the year, the new Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross have been recording particularly high order levels across Europe. Stellantis recently announced that it had surpassed the symbolic milestone of 100,000 cumulative orders for these two models on the continent. This figure demonstrates a definite enthusiasm for Citroën's new stylistic and technological direction in this crucial segment. The new C3, initially launched in France and Italy in January 2024, and then rolled out more widely across Europe from September 2024, quickly found its audience. Its strong sales performance is being confirmed month after month, as evidenced by its remarkable fifth place in the European market in April. It must be said that the task was considerable, facing fierce competition and the enduring success of the previous generation, which had an exceptional first half of 2024, positioning itself as Stellantis's most ordered car, combining both C3 generations. Today, the new C3 Aircross joins its city car sibling. Sharing the same appealing arguments – a unique style that doesn't go unnoticed, comfort worthy of Citroën's reputation, and particularly competitive pricing – it is just beginning its deliveries. This gradual arrival on European roads should logically amplify Citroën's commercial performance in the coming months, thereby consolidating the brand's position.

Solid growth prospects and untapped potential

The order level recorded by mid-May, exceeding 100,000 units in just four and a half months, suggests very encouraging prospects for the full year 2025. Historically, the first-generation C3 Aircross sold around 65,000 units per year in Europe in recent years, while the C3 hovered around 150,000 units over the same period. This represented a cumulative annual volume of approximately 215,000 vehicles for Citroën in this segment. If the current rate of order intake is maintained, the brand could easily aim for 265,000 units for the C3 and C3 Aircross over a full year. Such a performance would represent a significant increase of around 23% compared to past figures, demonstrating the market's positive reception of this renewed offer. Furthermore, there is still significant room for improvement. The C3 and C3 Aircross range has not yet deployed its full potential. Indeed, strategic developments are expected soon: the C3 will see the arrival of a version equipped with a smaller capacity battery, making it even more accessible. For its part, the C3 Aircross will be enhanced with a long-range electric version, promising up to 420 km, with orders opening in early June. Finally, the hybrid version of the C3, whose production has started at the Trnava plant, has not yet been subject to press tests or official communication from Citroën. This powertrain, particularly anticipated in the European market, is expected to generate a substantial additional volume of orders once marketed and actively promoted.

In conclusion, the success of the new Citroën C3 is being confirmed and amplified in Europe since its effective continent-wide launch in September 2024, displaying robust and consistent sales performances. The volume of orders recorded since the beginning of the year for the C3 and C3 Aircross duo clearly indicates that these models, with their philosophy focused on essentials, well-being, and accessibility, aptly meet the expectations and needs of a broad European clientele. The outlook for Citroën in the B-segment therefore appears particularly bright, driven by positive momentum and a promising product plan.