Citroen C5 AirCross launch pushed back due to Corona Virus

India is currently one the fastest growing automobile market in the world. Over the years we have seen many international brands make their entry into the country with good products and grab buyers attention. Latest examples of such brands are MG and Kia Motors who became popular in the country within a very short span of time because of the models. One such manufacturer who has been preparing to make its entry into the Indian market was French manufacturer Citroen. The first model that they plan to launch in the country is the C5 Aircross SUV. Citroen which is part of Groupe PSA has now announced that they have pushed the launch of the Citroen C5 Aircross due to the current situation in the country.

The group was all set to make its entry into the market with their product this year but, due to the spread of Corona virus pandemic and the lockdown due to it has created a hurdle for the brand. Groupe PSA has announced that Citroen will be now launching the C5 Aircross in the first quarter of 2021. Citroen C5 Aircross is quite different from the SUVs that we have seen so far in the country. It has a unique design with signature Citroen logo integrated grille at the front. It overall has a round design rather than carrying a sharp design that we normally see on an SUV. It is a mid-size SUV and will compete with cars like Mahindra XUV500, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier Kia Seltos and MG Hector in the segment.

Citroen C5 Aircross will be manufactured in India at their facilities in Hosur and Tiruvallur and will be available for Indian as well as global market. As of now the Citroen will only be available with a BS6 compliant petrol or a diesel engine option only. In future there is a possibility that Citroen might introduce a hybrid or an electric version of the same. Citroen has a C-Cube program under which the brand plans to launch a new vehicle every year till 2023. The vehicle launched under this program will be designed, developed and manufactured in India and will also be launched here first. This will help Citroen keep the costs down by a margin. The C5 AirCross will be the French car maker’s first offering in India, and will be a comeback of sorts for its parent company Peugeot, which did operate in India during the 1990s through a joint venture with Premier Automobiles.