The Made-in-India Citroen e-C3 has crossed the 500-unit export milestone. With this, Citroen has become India's first multinational car manufacturing company to ship locally-built electric vehicles to international markets. On April 11, the car manufacturer began exporting its e-C3 electric vehicles to overseas markets, with the inaugural shipment of 500 units exported from the Kamarajar Port (Chennai) to Indonesia. Citroen says that the move is aligned with its global ambitions of democratising electric mobility to increase the adoption of sustainable and clean modes of transportation.
'India is not only a strategic market but also a major sourcing hub for vehicles, components, and mobility technologies within the Stellantis group. Commencing the export of the versatile Made-In-India Citroen e-C3 electric vehicle to international customers is a proud validation of our engineering and development capabilities. We remain committed to growing in India and promoting sustainable mobility while showcasing India's manufacturing prowess on a global stage,' said Aditya Jairaj, CEO & MD, Stellantis India.
Speaking of Stellantis, the company takes its name from the Latin 'Stello', meaning 'to brighten with stars'. Formed in 2020, the company is the result of the merger of the PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Currently, it sells Citroen and Jeep models in India.
Citroen e-C3: Powertrain, Price
The Citroen e-C3, which recently received a zero-star rating for adult occupant protection in the Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash test, hit the Indian market in 2023. Under the hood, the Citroen eC3 gets a 29.2kWh battery pack that powers a front axle-mounted electric motor. The motor makes 56bhp and 143Nm of peak torque, resulting in a 0 to 60km/h sprint time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 107km/h. The Citroen eC3 has an ARAI-claimed range of 320km and gets two driving modes – Eco and Standard – along with regenerative braking. The electric hatchback comes in two variants – Feel and Shine, priced between Rs 12.70 lakh and Rs 13.50 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
'This "Make in India" Citroën e-C3 symbolises the strength of the Indian-French industrial cooperation and our mutual commitment towards achieving cleaner mobility at the global scale. Indeed, the Citroën e-C3’s journey materializes the core ambition of the strategic partnership between our two countries, as it was already highlighted in July by the French Minister for Ecological Transition when he came to Chennai for the G20. And I am glad to observe that this car seems to be a success in the Indian market, with already a few thousand of it sold in the last year,' said Lise Talbot Barre, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai.
Moreover, Citroen began exporting the C3 to ASEAN and African markets from Kamarajar Port in March 2023. In India, the C3 ranges from Rs 6.16 lakh to Rs 9.08 lakh (ex-showroom).
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