Citroen need to be in main segments not niche ones, says CEO

Citroen will not have many cars, instead five to six well-positioned ones which appeal to customers.

According to media reports, Citroen's future lineup will not include smaller and larger models. The French carmaker will instead focus solely on Europe's largest mainstream segments.

The decision to focus on the mainstream segments effectively means the end of both its entry-level C1 and also its range-topping D-segment model, the C5 X. The decision was confirmed by Thierry Koskas, CEO of Citroen, who stated that the brand "needs to be in the main segments, not niche segments." Koskas stated that the C5 X is "not performing badly but is in a segment that’s non-existent." He further added, "Citroën needs to be in the B- and C-segments as this is the heart of the brand."

Going forward, the B-segment Citroen C3 could become the brand's entry-level offering and end with the C5 Aircross being its range-topping model. Koskas stated, "If you go into the A-segment [with a C1 replacement], you would expect to pay less than the B-segment, but the production costs for us are the same."

The CEO also stated that future Citroens will not be limited to conventional hatchbacks and SUV body styles, but will instead have "new shapes that do not exist". He added, "We will take risks, we need to shake the market, and Citroën can do that. We will do it in the B- and C-segments, which is the vast majority of the European market. That’s where we need to be."

Koskas also confirmed that in the future, Citroen will not have many cars, instead five to six well-positioned ones which appeal to customers. He said, "There’s no magic number, but five or six models well positioned, really appealing to customers… I’d be happy with that."

Source: Autocar UK