From 2021, Citroën will return to the Indian market with the C5 Aircross, and from 2022 with a specific range designed and assembled locally, inaugurated by the C3. The C3 Aircross followed, and a third variant will soon be added to the range. But this is not the only change that Citroën will be making in India this year, as the brand is preparing to significantly increase the safety equipment of its models.
With the marketing of the C3 and then the C3 Aircross, Citroën wanted to offer the Indian market accessible models with a good look and a level of comfort worthy of the brand. However, both the trade press and consumers regretted that this desire to be accessible came at the expense of certain features that everyone now expects. The lack of these features penalised the sales of the models because the competition offered them at similar prices. The C3 and C3 Aircross are certainly appreciated for their design, spaciousness and comfort, but they suffer from a lack of equipment that is unacceptable to some in India at the moment.
Following the introduction of an automatic gearbox on the C3 Aircross, an option favoured by consumers, Citroën continues its rethink of the Indian market and announces that it will significantly improve the range of equipment, particularly in terms of safety, in the coming months. In fact, from the second half of 2024, all models sold, C3, ë-C3 and C3 Aircross, will benefit from the following standard equipment on all their ranges 6 airbags, anchorages for Isofix seats as well as 'a reminder of the rear seat belts.
Aditya Jairaj, Managing Director and CEO, Stellantis India, said, "Today's customers have evolved and consider safety as important as comfort and driving functionality. At Citroën, we are constantly evaluating and responding quickly to consumer demands to meet their changing needs. The brand's safe mobility ambition will continue to drive our team to deliver the highest levels of protection, ride quality and value to our customers. "
This significant improvement in standard safety equipment on all models and trim levels is a real plus for the brand, which is responding to customer expectations. Citroën seems to have understood that while Indian customers are looking for accessible cars, they also expect them to be well equipped, especially in terms of safety. The new management of the brand seems to be taking control of India and to understand that in order to sell in this huge and very competitive market, it is necessary to at least meet customer demand. This is why the automatic gearbox has been integrated into the C3 Aircross, soon to be integrated into the C3, and the safety equipment is increasing, which bodes well for Citroën's future sales. However, in the short term, during the first half of the year, there may be a wait-and-see attitude on the part of consumers, who are now aware of the increase in the basic allocation in the coming months. It remains to be seen how much Citroën will charge for this extra equipment and whether the brand has really understood the expectations of Indian consumers.