New Citroën C3 targets India and South America

Citroën is seeking to expand internationally beyond Europe, with the aim of generating 30% of its total sales outside the continent. This new C3 represents an important move in that strategy: it has been developed and will be built in India and South America, its priority markets.

That means this C3 will not be sold in Europe, nor will it replace the C3 currently available here, which was updated roughly a year ago.

The new C3 is the first vehicle to emerge from the “C Cubed” programme. It will be followed by two further models, due to launch by 2024, which will likewise be aimed primarily at India and South America.

New Citroën C3: SUV-inspired design

This is a supermini with SUV-like characteristics, most notably its 18 cm ground clearance. Particular attention has been paid to its approach and departure angles, as well as underbody protection - almost as though it were an off-road vehicle.

Such an adaptation is necessary given the markets in which it will be sold. India, for instance, has 5.5 million kilometres of roads, but 40% of them are not tarmac-covered.

The new Citroën C3 is also under four metres long - 3.98 m, to be exact - making it better suited to the Indian market, where vehicle taxation is based on length. Cars exceeding 4.0 m face higher tax charges.

Whereas “our” C3 is based on the PF1 platform, this new C3 uses a derivative of the successor CMP architecture, found beneath the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa and Citroën C4. Coincidentally, the newcomer shares its European “sibling’s” 2.54 m wheelbase.

Interior space and technology

Its taller body, however, creates more generous interior dimensions. Citroën says the new C3 sets the segment benchmark for rear head, shoulder and elbow room. Boot capacity ranges from 300 l in South America to 315 l in India.

The cabin also offers plenty of storage spaces and, despite being a more price-focused proposition, it does not lack technology. It features the segment’s largest 10-inch touchscreen, Mirror Screen functionality with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, voice recognition, and several USB charging ports for smartphones.

The only remaining question concerns the engines that will power the new C3, as the French marque has not yet announced them.

Local production

The new Citroën C3 will not launch until the first half of 2022, and it will be manufactured locally in Brazil and India. In South America, where Citroën has been present since the 1960s, the new C3 will be built at the Porto Real plant in Brazil.

The real novelty is Citroën’s arrival in India, a market with attractive growth potential that is expected to become the world’s third largest by 2025, with annual sales of more than four million units.

The French brand entered the Indian market recently through imports of the larger C5 Aircross, but the new C3 will be produced there. This avoids punitive import duties and will provide a high level of local integration, above 90%, thanks to the joint ventures established between Stellantis Group and CK Birla Group companies for vehicle assembly and distribution, as well as powertrain manufacturing.