Citroën's Bulgarian surge: C3 Aircross breaks into Top 5, driving record growth

After a delicate first half of 2025 in several markets, Citroën appears to have found a strong new rhythm. Since July, the "double chevron" brand has shown solid signs of a rebound, a trend that is now accelerating into the end of the year. One of the most striking examples of this new momentum comes from Eastern Europe, specifically Bulgaria. In this evolving market, Citroën's sales are experiencing a significant surge, thanks primarily to the successful launch of the new C3 Aircross. This new model is not just supporting growth; it is actively propelling the brand, allowing it to achieve dazzling progress and secure a leading position. The perfect illustration is October 2025, where Citroën's urban SUV achieved the remarkable feat of entering the country's Top 5 overall sales.

October 2025: a landmark month for Citroën in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian automotive market showed impressive vitality in October 2025, posting notable growth of 26.6% compared to the previous year, reaching 5,499 registered units. In this buoyant environment, Citroën's performance was nothing short of spectacular. The brand saw its sales leap by +237.1%, reaching 300 units. This explosive growth, far outpacing the market average, allowed Citroën to claim a significant 5.5% market share for the month and rise to 7th place among manufacturers. Notably, this performance enabled the brand to overtake Peugeot and establish itself as the number one Stellantis brand in Bulgaria, a powerful sign of its current momentum.

The main architect of this success is unequivocally the C3 Aircross. The brand's new SUV attracted 184 customers in October, achieving the feat of ranking 5th in the entire market, across all categories. It sits just behind the market's established benchmark, the Dacia Duster, which sold 204 units. This performance is all the more impressive given that the C3 Aircross climbed 18 places in the rankings compared to September, signaling a very rapid ramp-up. But the C3 Aircross is not the only model shining. The C3 city car, a pillar of the range, is also performing strongly. It recorded a sales increase of +275% with 30 units sold, securing a very respectable 6th place in its segment.

A growth dynamic confirmed throughout 2025

This exceptional October is not an isolated event but rather the confirmation of a fundamental trend observed throughout 2025 in Bulgaria. In the first ten months of the year, the overall market grew by 9%, totaling 45,774 units. During this same period, Citroën saw its cumulative sales increase by +47.1%, reaching 1,992 units. This sustained growth, nearly five times that of the market, has allowed the brand to climb to the 8th position in the annual rankings, a gain of four places compared to 2024. And just as in October, Citroën holds its position as the leading Stellantis brand for the full year 2025.

Analyzing the year-to-date sales, a two-pillar strategy emerges. On one hand, the Citroën C3 remains the brand's best-selling model for the year, with 592 units and solid growth of +81%. This performance secures it the 15th spot in the Bulgarian market. On the other hand, the new C3 Aircross is demonstrating a spectacular launch effect. Its sales have soared by +1405.9% (an exponential increase explained by the new model replacing its predecessor), reaching 512 units for the year. This momentum places it 20th in the market year-to-date, a position that, given its October performance, is likely to improve rapidly.

Bulgaria, a symbol of renewed european growth

As i often discuss on Passionnément Citroën, the brand is showing incredible strength in Austria, posting record-breaking growth month after month (see our article on Austria's 148% growth). But Austria is not an isolated case. The brand is experiencing healthy growth elsewhere in Europe, and Bulgaria is a prime example. This October will stand out as one of Citroën's best performances, highlighted by the C3 Aircross securing a Top 5 sales spot—a truly significant achievement.

This performance is all the more meaningful because the Bulgarian market, like many in Europe, is heavily dominated by SUVs. A look at the sales charts shows that models like the Dacia Duster, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage are among the most popular vehicles. In this context, the C3 Aircross's success is a very promising sign for the future. As one of the newest and most accessible SUVs on the market, it is perfectly positioned to meet local demand. Its entry into the Top 5 is likely just the beginning and confirms that Citroën's new product strategy is paying off.