Citroën C3: continuing its conquest in a rapidly evolving belgian market

After a challenging start to 2025 for the entire automotive industry, Citroën is demonstrating impressive resilience in the Belgian market. While the overall new car market experienced a 9.2% contraction over the first nine months, the French brand has managed to mitigate its losses, showing performance significantly above the market average. In this context, the new Citroën C3 stands out as a strategic pillar, reaffirming its best-seller status and securing a leading position in the sales rankings. Its success highlights the relevance of its offerings, which appeal to a diverse customer base through a smart blend of traditional and electrified powertrains.

A powertrain lineup perfectly tailored to the Belgian market

An analysis of vehicle registrations in Belgium reveals a dual-speed market, heavily influenced by customer type. On one hand, corporate clients, who account for 56.7% of new car registrations, are overwhelmingly choosing fully electric vehicles (BEVs). More than seven out of ten new company cars are now electrified, with BEVs making up 52.5% of their purchases. On the other hand, private buyers continue to favor gasoline engines (63.6%) and, when they opt for electrification, they predominantly choose self-charging hybrids (HEVs), which represent nearly one in five sales in this segment.

It is in this contrasting landscape that the Citroën C3 excels. In the overall rankings across all engine types, it achieves an excellent third place with 6,979 units sold. This positions it just behind the Dacia Sandero (8,247 units) but ahead of long-standing competitors like the Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio. The C3's strength lies in its outstanding performance in the most significant segment for private buyers: gasoline. With 5,898 units sold, the gasoline-powered C3 is one of Belgium's most popular models, directly meeting the primary demand of private consumers. This strategy allows Citroën to maintain high sales volumes while preparing for the future with its new electrified versions, which are poised to find favor with both corporate fleets and private individuals seeking hybrid solutions.

Undisputed popularity in Brussels and a balanced nationwide presence

A geographical analysis of the Citroën C3's sales highlights a particularly remarkable performance in the nation's capital. In Brussels, the C3 reigns as the undisputed market leader, securing the top sales spot with 1,223 registrations, well ahead of its closest competitors. This leadership in a dense urban environment underscores the appeal of its compact size, agility, and attractive design for city dwellers.

While the C3 does not appear in the top-five sales charts for the Flanders or Wallonia regions, its third-place position nationwide indicates a solid and consistent presence across the entire country. Unlike some models whose success is highly concentrated in a single region, the C3 enjoys widespread and evenly distributed popularity. This success is primarily driven by private customers. The C3 ranks as the third best-selling model to private individuals, with 4,270 units sold, just behind the ever-popular Dacia Sandero. Conversely, it is not listed in the top ten for corporate sales, a segment dominated by premium and fully electric models like the BMW X1. This distribution reinforces the C3's status as an "everyday car," a versatile and accessible hatchback that has earned the trust of Belgian households.

The new generation of the Citroën C3 not only continues but amplifies its historic success in the Belgian market. By securing a podium finish in a demanding economic climate, it proves the brilliance of its design and strategy. With a gasoline offering that resonates strongly with private buyers and the introduction of perfectly positioned hybrid and electric versions set to appeal to both families and businesses, the C3 is well-equipped to remain at the top. In the coming months, it could very well aim to reclaim the number-one market position it has proudly held in the past, further cementing its status as an automotive icon in Belgium.