Citroen India Gets a Big Push as Stellantis Announces Rs 2,000 Crore Additional Investment in Tamil Nadu

Stellantis – the parent organisation of Citroen India – has made a strategic decision to invest an additional Rs 2,000 crores in the French brand in Tamil Nadu. In 2019, it invested about Rs 1,250 crores in the state under Citroen. This raises the total capital spending in the state to Rs 3,250 crore. It's worth noting that the new investment consists of both capital costs and R&D activities and will be made over six years. Stellantis India claims that the extra funding will support Citroen's ICE and EV production activities and India's Made-in-India campaign, along with employment generation in the region. The Tamil Nadu government has announced to offer the necessary infrastructural and regulatory support to facilitate the successful implementation of the project.

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Aditya Jairaj, CEO & MD of Stellantis India, said ‘This substantial investment under the Citroën brand underscores our commitment to India's automotive market. Tamil Nadu has consistently demonstrated its suitability for business, offering a conducive environment for growth. With firm state support, we aim to strengthen production capabilities and spearhead technological advancements, reinforcing our position as a driving force for sustainable growth and innovation.’

Citroen C3X India Launch Highlights

While Citroen hasn't disclosed any details, the C3X is expected to go on sale in India soon. It has been spotted undergoing road testing several times in India, giving us an idea of how it may look. Previous spy photos suggest that the C3X takes styling inspiration from the C3 Aircross SUV. It is likely to feature a broader grille, fog lamps located on the bumper, and a split LED headlamp. Door-mounted ORVMs and wraparound LED taillights are among other potential exterior elements.

In terms of the powertrain, the upcoming C3X will likely feature the same 1.2-litre turbo-petrol mill that does duty in the existing Citroen models in India. When coupled with a manual or automatic transmission, this motor produces 108bhp and 189Nm.

Also Read: autoX Awards 2023: Citroen eC3 Performance, Quality and Value for Money Ranked

The French carmaker currently sells the C3, e-C3, C3 Aircross, and C5 Aircross in India. It is likely to introduce the C3X crossover and the C3 Aircross Automatic in the Indian market to extend its product line in the country.