First half-year 2025 review - Europe: a two-faceted half-year for Citroën

Welcome to the first article in our new series dedicated to analyzing Citroën's commercial performance. We begin with its primary market, Europe, which remains the heart of its business, even as the brand seeks to expand internationally. With the first half of 2025 now complete, it is time to take stock. How did the "chevrons" brand navigate a complex economic and competitive landscape? At first glance, the figures might seem challenging, but a deeper analysis reveals a much more nuanced story—a two-speed dynamic that hints at better days ahead. Between market headwinds and the success of key models, let's break down Citroën's performance together.

Contrasting performances in key european markets

A country-by-country analysis of Citroën's first half of 2025 paints a varied picture, marked by significant challenges but also by reasons for optimism that highlight the brand's resilience. In Germany, within an automotive market that declined by 4.7%, Citroën recorded a 20.9% drop with 24,839 units sold. This figure, while substantial, must be contextualized by the outstanding performance in the first half of 2024, when the brand had surged by 58.9%. This suggests a market normalization after a period of intense growth rather than a structural collapse.

In Spain, the situation is different. The overall market shows healthy vitality with a 13.9% increase, yet Citroën experienced a 22% decline to 20,103 units. Here again, this performance follows a very positive first half of 2024 (+9.3%). However, flagship models are showing great strength. The new ë-C3 has already climbed into the top five electric vehicles, ranking second in its segment. The Citroën C4 is performing exceptionally well, posting spectacular growth of 37% to 8,856 units, allowing it to dominate its segment. The hybrid version of the C4 is also a success, placing second in its category with a staggering 1,160% increase.

Italy reaffirms its historical attachment to Citroën, particularly the C3. In a market with a slight downturn of 3.6%, the brand's sales fell by 14.84%. However, the performance of the C3 is remarkable. With 25,466 units, it ranks as the 4th best-selling car in the country, but more importantly, it is the best-selling internal combustion engine (ICE) car, outselling its nearest competitor by 10,000 units. Its electric version also leads its segment. It is crucial to note that these excellent results position the C3 at levels far superior to its pre-crisis figures, proving the model's enduring appeal.

Finally, in its home market of France, Citroën is demonstrating strong resilience. In a national market down by 7.9%, the brand limited its decline to just 6.2% (61,493 units), thereby gaining market share. The C3 remains a cornerstone, holding steady as the 4th best-seller. The C4 confirms its good form by re-entering the national Top 20 and leading its segment. The biggest surprise comes from the C5 Aircross, which is experiencing a true revival with a 20.79% sales increase, putting it back in the Top 20 and proving that recent updates to the model are paying off.

A two-speed european momentum

Looking at the situation on a Europe-wide scale (EU + EFTA + UK), the data available through the end of May requires careful interpretation. In a generally stable overall automotive market (+0.1%), Citroën shows a decline of 13.6% with 155,800 registrations, resulting in a market share of 2.8%. However, this headline figure masks a very encouraging recovery dynamic during the second quarter. The start of the year was difficult, but the trend improved markedly between March and May, a sign that the brand's strategy is beginning to yield positive results.

This improvement is visible across all key models. The Citroën C3, which was down 5% at the end of the first quarter, narrowed its gap to just -4% by the end of May, demonstrating its ability to regain ground. The most significant turnaround is that of the Citroën C4. Its deficit, which stood at 15% at the end of Q1, has shrunk dramatically to only -3% by the end of May. This spectacular comeback reflects the positive reception of its electrified versions and its renewed competitiveness. The C5 Aircross follows a similar trajectory, moving from a 21% decline to a 10% decline, driven in particular by its excellent results in France. Even the C3 Aircross, at the end of its lifecycle and thus logically in sharp decline, saw its fall slow from -93% to -76%, pending the imminent arrival of its successor.

In conclusion, Citroën's performance in Europe for the first half of 2025 is undeniably a story of shadows and light. The overall drop in volume can be largely attributed to a major circumstantial factor: the virtual absence of the C3 Aircross, a high-volume model whose renewal created a sales vacuum. With deliveries of the new model only beginning at the very end of June, its impact on the first semester was logically nil. This absence, coupled with some market-specific underperformance at the start of the year, explains the overall figures.

However, the analysis cannot stop there. The trend observed during the second quarter is a strong and extremely positive signal. The brand's ability to turn the tide for its flagship models like the C4 and C5 Aircross, and to stabilize the C3, is proof of a rediscovered commercial momentum. The French market, where first-quarter losses were entirely offset in the second quarter to finish at breakeven, is symptomatic of this rebound potential. With the arrival of the highly anticipated new C3 Aircross in showrooms, a model poised to be a major player in its segment, Citroën now has all the necessary assets to transform this positive momentum into solid growth for the second half of 2025.

*June figures unavailable at the time of writing this article