[TusharK]

The sheer lack of features has been the biggest dealbreaker for most Citroen customers when it comes to C3 and C3 Aircross. It is likely to change soon though, as Citroen plans to update the features list in the coming months.



Reports suggest that Citroen will introduce automatic climate control and a foldable key on the C3 and C3 Aircross by July. It is said that the cars could also get LED headlights in the near future.

Ashwani Muppasani, COO of Stellantis India and Asia Pacific, said, “We know we have missed some hygiene issues, but we are working on remedying these very quickly. Our team is moving really fast and you’ll see that soon.”

Meanwhile, Citroen is gearing up to launch the C3X in the Indian market, while the facelift versions of the C3 and C3 Aircross are scheduled to arrive in 2025.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

[Thyag]

Such a mechanically well sorted car, but getting the updates in installments is really bad. This just shows how the local management spent (more like wasted & wasting) time gathering information about the market.

People need gimmicky features, give them those and get a foothold in the market - then think about the next step.

As For me, just put in the Diesel Engine (1.5 or 1.6 BlueHDi ) in there, happily I will take it today itself

[Sidban85]

If this takes 2025, they probably should not even bother.
By 2025, others would have taken the game to even further distance from Stellantis.

[fhdowntheline]

When is Citroen putting the AT on the Citroen C3 ? That would be a huge win over its competitors.

[ergon_9700]

Originally Posted by Sidban85

If this takes 2025, they probably should not even bother.
By 2025, others would have taken the game to even further distance from Stellantis.

They are going to do it in July itself as confirmed by the COO. This is when they bring their safety upgrades as well. So it is a win-win for those who wait. Also C3X is delayed because of these feature additions as well. So, they are responding but it is a bit late.

[ron178]

Too little, too late. New buyers just don't have the kind of trust in Citroën that a nip-and-tuck can fix. Being known as a flop is a hard reputation to erase. Personally I think that with the auto AC and six airbags etc. it might actually be worth considering, and the C3 X might have the real uniqueness factor Citroën needs. But the 2025 facelifts will need to be very comprehensive to get the market to give Citroën a second chance.

[GTO]

What all they should have done pre-launch, they are doing post-launch. Didn't they learn anything from new launches like Kia? And to an extent, MG? This is akin to doing your homework after the final exams

My article on why it's important to get things right at launch - link (Why it's important to offer the right engines + AT gearboxes + variants at the time of launch).

No one cares after the launch. In the history of the Indian car scene, no car has ever recovered from a poor launch. Of course, there are rare exceptions to the rule (Versa -> Eeco), but they are far & few between.

[Nithesh_M]

There's 2 ways to salvage this.

Launch the updated version of the C3 and C3 Aircross and keep them as mid to high end variants of the existing lineup. This is akin to what Tata makes when it rejigs features and introduces XT(+), XZ(+) and similar variants to highlight new variant with modified features or just launch the updated versions of these with completely redesigned facelifts and call it something else now so customers don't join the dots until they're sat inside one to give a judgement.

[shancz]

I have always failed to see a USP in the C3 family.
Not having an auto AC or the other stuff they're working on isn't the issue holding back the sales but the lack of a big differentiator from the deeply entrenched competition is, IMHO.

[bajoseph04]

It's 2024 and automatic climate control is still considered a feature buyers need to wait for! I wish all the very best for the company. But I still feel they should have waited untill 2025 and then add this feature in their facelift models. Not sure why Citroen is in a hurry

[DivyanshuDiv]

It seems 2013-14 plans are getting executed in 2023-24, by mistake and in a hurry.
I still don't understand what customers is Citreon targeting, how they projecting as a brand, and competing with limited dealerships, unappealing choices and missing features on possibly good products in our market. Somewhere in between(blueprints to production), few arms are not as per their standards, and this may not work in long run to sustain.

[nhkvarma]

Originally Posted by TusharK

The sheer lack of features has been the biggest dealbreaker for most Citroen customers when it comes to C3 and C3 Aircross. It is likely to change soon though, as Citroen plans to update the features list in the coming months.

Kia and Fiat can be best case studies what an automobile company should do and shouldn't in Indian market.

I won't be surprised if Citroen is going to pack up soon.

[arjab]

Originally Posted by GTO

What all they should have done pre-launch, they are doing post-launch. Didn't they learn anything from new launches like Kia? And to an extent, MG? This is akin to doing your homework after the final exams

And even more strange when you consider the fact that the global brand head/director or whatever at Stellantis, responsible for Citroen branding, is a very senior person who formerly helmed the Datsun Redigo-Renault Kwid platform projects. I am sure the person is fully aware as to why the Datsun twins flopped and the Renault Kwid succeeded, Kwid possibly being the first credible threat to Lord Alto in the 2015's after its launch.

It will be difficult for Citroen to play catch up now. When consumer demand is forcing the the OEM's to moving towards even greater feature inttroductions at lower variant levels, Citroen is coming in with contents and fitments which are bygone to say the least. Heck, even the Nano had an AMT variant when it ceased production in 2018(??).
Basic level ADAS, dashcams, premium audio systems and similar stuff are now being introduced in many entry level C segment SUV models. It is not that Citroen does not have the technology. They have everything, it is just that their product planners are totally incompetent and clueless about customer wants and needs and thinks that "Indians won't pay" so let's not put that feature!

It is indeed a shame because Citroen does not deserve to die in India. The car's are extremely well engineered, has a cosseting ride, very nice handling, spacious cabins, supportive seating etc.

Citroen also need to get their supply chain in order. When I booked a C3 Turbo, right after Citroen launched, I waited for six months and was finally told by the dealership, that they were totally clueless as to when Citroen would ship the Turbo variant from the factory to their dealership! I was requested to convert my booking to the naturally aspirated variant which I did not, as I wanted the lovely C3 Turbo only, and eventually had to cancel my booking.
On a more serious note:Citroen dealers are now quite a demoralised lot. The C3, C3 Electric, C3 Aircross(both variants), C5 (oh man, what a car ) nothing is selling. Their working capital is locked up, showroom rents are enormous and the dealers are skeptical about the Fastlounge as well. Because they feel by the time the FastLounge reaches the showroom, the Tata Curvv will steal the thunder and walk away with the emerging new styling trend of "SUV-Coupe".

Hope Citroen India gets it act together before it loses its mojo any further.

[drive on]

I am in look out for a C segment car and despite all the misses I am willing to consider C3 Aircross for its mechanical sorted nature. Though not looking for too many gimmicky features. The shocking thing here is the apathy from the dealer - called up Citroen on customer care twice to express my interest. I was supposed to be contacted by the dealer, no one has contacted yet and it has been ten days already. Had called them again one final time to express my disappointment , the assurance was much more stronger this time but still no action from the dealer. This is the Bangalore Citroen dealer and apparently only the Hosur road one is operational and not the Millers Road one. With this I don’t know how will they save themselves.

[furyrider]

Originally Posted by drive on

The shocking thing here is the apathy from the dealer

The situation is the same in Hyderabad as well. My cousin recently purchased a Taigun GT DSG last month (for those who read my other posts, yes, this is the same cousin who also TDed the new Seltos and Elevate) and just before he booked one, he wanted to TD the C3 Aircross since he read a lot about the handling and wanted to check the vehicle before he put his money.

We visited a dealer to check the vehicle and TD one if possible. We were informed that they had 2023 November vehicles in stock and that the "top end" AT was around 14L OTR post discounts. No price break-up or variant details were ever shared with us. No TD vehicle was available (not even
manual) when we visited the showroom. My cousin was okay with the missing features. He walked out of the showroom impressed with the vehicle. For almost a week, he would regularly call the sales guy to check if there was a possibility of a TD. He even promised him that he would book one immediately if he liked the vehicle post TD. Every single call was ignored by the sales guy. He used to respond with some excuse and disconnect the call. Finally, he put his money on the Taigun GT and is extremely happy with it. Sure, he spent almost 10L more on the Taigun, but the difference in dealership experience was night and day.

The showroom experience was beyond pathetic in my opinion. I would rate it at par with Tata (if not worse). At least Tata has vehicles which are desirable for our crowd. Citroen has nothing. When we visited, we were the only customers there and yet, there was not a single attempt to sell the car. If this is how they continue doing business here, no amount of features can turn around their fortunes.