Citroën C5 X: a certain resilience in China

Citroën one of the first foreign automakers to establish a presence in the colossal Chinese market, is currently navigating an environment of unprecedented complexity. Far from its past glories, the brand with the double chevron is operating within a mature, ultra-competitive market where the landscape is being profoundly reshaped by the rapid rise of new players. The spectacular emergence of these new manufacturers, primarily local and heavily focused on electromobility, has disrupted the established order, pushing many historical players towards a more modest presence. While Citroën's overall market share in China is now relatively small, the results of one model in particular, the C5 X, warrant close examination due to their notable performance in this demanding context, demonstrating a form of unexpected resilience despite evident disadvantages.

The Chinese market is caught between massive electrification and the rise of national brands.

The Chinese automotive market, closely watched by the global industry, demonstrated significant momentum in April 2025. Wholesale sales figures, a key indicator of production and sector dynamics, reached an impressive total of 2,590,000 units, representing a robust increase of 9.8% compared to the same month in 2024. This overall performance, however, conceals underlying trends that are fundamentally reshaping this strategic market. One of the most striking developments is the spectacular rise of electrified vehicles, encompassing both fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids. In April, these models accounted for 1,226,000 units sold, representing a market share exceeding 47% (47.3% specifically). More significantly, this segment recorded a colossal increase of 44.2% year-on-year, demonstrating the acceleration of the energy transition within the country. This massive electrification positions China as a global leader and suggests that the market could become predominantly electrified in the very near future.

In parallel with this accelerated electrification, the Chinese market is also characterized by the inexorable rise of national brands. These local manufacturers, long perceived as more affordable alternatives, have invested heavily in technology, innovation, and design, and now openly compete with established international players. This strategy is yielding results, as Chinese brands are continuously gaining market share and establishing dominance in sales rankings. In April 2025, their ascendancy is such that five of them are now featured in the Top 10 sales list. BYD stands out as the undisputed leader, far ahead of its competitors, with over 243,000 units sold. Geely solidly holds the second position with over 170,000 units, while Volkswagen, a major historical player, completes the podium in third place with 146,500 units. This dynamic favoring national brands significantly complicates the situation for foreign automotive groups with strong historical presences, including German manufacturers who have traditionally held a strong position in the Chinese market, forcing them to adapt rapidly to maintain their relevance.

The Citroën C5 X, an exception in a very modest picture

Within this highly competitive and rapidly changing market context, Citroën's overall figures in China remain, in terms of volume, relatively modest. In April 2025, the brand with the double chevron recorded sales of 2,004 units, representing a slight increase of 11.3% compared to April 2024. Over the first four months of the year, the total reached 7,370 units sold, a progression of 6.3% year-on-year. These volumes place Citroën in 63rd position in the Chinese market, positioning it just behind Smart but ahead of other international brands like Skoda or Chevrolet. These figures, although showing slight growth, highlight the difficulty for Citroën to significantly impact this massive market.

However, a detailed analysis of sales reveals a singular performance that provides a crucial nuance to this overall picture: that of the Citroën C5 X. This large sedan, produced locally in China, accounts for the majority of the brand's sales. In April 2025, it sold 1,866 units, recording a very significant increase of 26.1% compared to the previous year. Since the beginning of the year, its sales have reached 6,809 units, a notable increase of 14.5%. What makes these figures all the more remarkable is the fact that the C5 X is offered in the Chinese market only with petrol engines. Plug-in hybrid versions, although available in other regions of the world and particularly suited to the dynamics of the ultra-electrified Chinese market, are not sold locally. In a market where nearly half of all sales concern electrified vehicles, the absence of a PHEV or electric offering for a major model like the C5 X represents a significant handicap, arguably even a commercial "heresy" according to some observers.

Despite this clear limitation in the face of a growing demand for electric vehicles, the C5 X manages to achieve sales figures that demonstrate its relevance and appeal among a segment of the Chinese clientele. Its performance allows it to surpass competitors, including models belonging to premium brands or benefiting from electrified options. The C5 X thus sells more units than the Volvo S60, the Mercedes GLB, and even the BMW iX3 (a fully electric model). It also positions itself very close to the Volkswagen ID4 X, another electric vehicle, separated by fewer than 50 units in April. To measure the extent of this relative performance, it is enlightening to compare it to that of the Peugeot 408 X, a similarly sized and designed model sharing the same technical base and produced in the same factory as the C5 X. Sales of the 408 X in China have remained extremely modest, with only 300 units sold in April and 418 since the start of the year. This significant disparity between the two models highlights the C5 X's ability to attract and find its audience, even without an electrified offering, proving that its distinctive concept of a versatile large sedan meets a specific expectation in this market.

Despite overall volumes that place Citroën, and by extension Stellantis, among the smaller players in the vast Chinese automotive market, the analysis of the April 2025 figures reveals a notable and commendable individual performance: that of the Citroën C5 X. Its ability to achieve respectable sales, and even surpass certain competitors that are arguably better "equipped" in terms of powertrains, demonstrates the relevance of its concept and its appeal to a clientele that values its comfort, distinctive style, and versatility.

This performance is all the more encouraging as it is achieved despite the absence of an electrified offering (plug-in hybrid or electric), which has become almost indispensable to significantly impact the current Chinese market. While the overall challenges for Citroën in China remain considerable in the face of the increasing dominance of local brands and the acceleration of electrification, the relative success of the C5 X offers a positive signal. It shows that a well-designed model, adapted to the expectations of a certain clientele, can still find its place, even with clear limitations on the technical front in the face of major market trends. This is a glimmer of optimism for the brand with the double chevron in one of the most demanding commercial arenas in the world.