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-   -   Citroen C5 Aircross to be launched in India in 2021 (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/208286-citroen-c5-aircross-launched-india-2021-a-5.html)

Citroen Test mules along with a DS6?
(DS is positioned as a premium brand by PSA!)

Looking at all the spy shots, here are my initial impressions:

1. Bringing a SUV/Crossover is the right strategy.
2. The entire positioning is around "comfort". It is also a great idea - there is no other competitor highlighting comfort so much.
3. Ground clearance in the spy shots looks too less for a crossover/SUV. Needs some increase (20mm) to suit Indian "road" conditions.
4. They must not skim the features to meet the price (specially safety features). There are many crossovers already between 10-17Lacs. This can be a premium offering with plethora of features - 20Lacs+.
5. Citroen must stay put in India for atleast 15-20 years no matter how the business goes. Only stable companies succeed in India. They should not just come here to test their luck.
6. If KIA, MG can make it big with their first product, there is no reason why Citroen should not.
7. Second French brand after Renault - Still Indians consider only Japanese cars are reliable cars and thus have good resale value. Hence, PSA must be careful - not to ruin its reputation. Main thing is to have a great quality control and prevent manufacturing defects small or big.

Auto sector is going through a strange phase:

1. Japanese brands have become very complacent about Indian market - offering same old, outdated cars. They are not pushing the boundaries.
2. Korean brands are setting new benchmarks, securing respectable market share and innovating faster.
3. European brands even though bring superior tech and best engineering, they tend to stretch the product life way beyond its shelf life. Have no inclination to improve after-sales-service or dealer network. They also show reluctance to customize their cars to suit Indian conditions.
4. Chinese brands are setting foot and challenging Indian brands on their own soil, pampering customers with creature comforts and make them forget the science of automobile engineering.

Old stereo types are being smashed and new norms are being established. This is the great churn of Auto industry.

Let us see how PSA plays its cards with Citroen's first product on Indian soil. All in all, there is one more choice being added to Indian car buyer which is a good news. All the best to Citroen on their Indian debut.






Disclaimer: Most observations here are made just by looking at the spy shots, not after analyzing authentic information. So, if I'm wrong anywhere,stupid: please forgive and forget. please:

Thanks to Ramanandan Narayanan for sending these images in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP page!

I agree. They should bring a smaller product in the range of Venue or even Seltos than larger product in the price bracket of Jeep. Don't see many takers in the latter case.

But no doubt the car is really good looking.

Good looking car indeed.
At a time when most cars try to be a bit of everything / jack of all trades, good to see a car that unabashedly focuses on one virtue - in this case comfort, even at the cost of handling and cornering stability.

Most European reviews rate C5 highly on ride comfort and NVH, while handling is best-suited for sedate driving. Some reviews mention too much bounce on broken roads though, and that could be a real issue for India.

The fact that each of the 3 rear-seats can be individually reclined & folded away is unique. But lack of rear armrest in a comfort oriented car is bit a off-putting. Surely they could've engineered a basic folding armrest into the centre seat? I guess one could buy bolsters. lol:

Sometimes I wonder if some of these car makers use India market to show write offs & losses. The car may be good alright. But a CKD/CBU import in India makes it quite stupid on pricing. How will it sell at much higher prices compared to its peers in the segment?

So purely on pricing, it will be called "premium". This as a strategy for a new entrant in a very competitive market that runs purely on MRP measure is quite weird. How can it work in establishing a marque into a new market? Only the way Hyundai, KIA, MG did it can work. I don't feel Citroen-Peugeot is actually looking at making this a long term establishment strategy.

From the Citroens point of view, the C5 Air Cross is only to make an entry. Not a grand one like the Seltos or Hector, but just to make people notice them as a brand. They have plans to eventually make in India, I presume timelines to be from 2021, but until then, what do you do, if you are Citroen! Instead of just waiting for the plant to get up and running, Citroen has taken the route of importing a few cars, and then probably start a bit of advertising and communication just to get a bit of brand recall. And then they would launch the India made model sometime in the near future.

Secondly, if PSA and FCA merge globally, I would not be surprised if they start doing something together in India. So platforms and engines get shared and you never know, the erstwhile Peugeot and Fiat may find themselves a niche market in India thru Jeep and Citroen!

Here's a walk around video of Citroen C5 Aircross:

https://youtu.be/PUthoyYRGhg

If this is for real, then congratulations to Citroen! I hope they do succeed here in our country, albeit having cars of quirky design. They just need to get the right marketing and pricing done.

History shows that the OEMs who enter the market with dedication always wins. Any half hearted attempt, even if it is from Maruti, won't succeed.

If they absorb CBU/CKD taxes for the initial months , and limit to , say 6K cars a la Hector , it's a win win for Citroen. Solid market entry paving the way for higher production of local manufactured versions next year

A friend of mine spotted this in Cochin:

Spotted these on Sunday at Krishnagiri Toll. There was a Black C5 as well, but I couldn't click a pic of that.

Mule spotted:



Source: Facebook

Citroen C5 Aircross spied and photographed from all directions! launch expected this festive season.









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