Citroen evaluates India as global production hub for 2CV EV
By Areeb Khan
Citroen is considering India as a production base for its upcoming 2CV electric hatchback, potentially serving domestic buyers and export markets. The compact EV is expected to arrive in Europe in 2028, with a targeted starting price of around €15,000.
Citroen ne iss month ke beginning mein 2026 Paris Motor Show mein 2CV concept ko unveil kiya tha. Yeh 3.76 metre long concept ek small electric hatchback ko preview karta hai, jiska production version 2028 mein aane expected hai. Europe mein iski starting price around €15,000 expected hai. According to industry sources se pata chala hai ki carmaker showroom version ki production ke liye India ko ek potential manufacturing base ke form par evaluate kar raha hai. That means agar yeh plan further jaata hai, so India mein is electric hatchback ko local market ke liye produce karne ke saath-saath other markets mein export bhi kiya jaa sakta hai. So yeh development us announcement ke around one weak baad saamne aayi hai, jahan Citroen ne India mein ek A-segment car launch karne ke plans confirm kiye the. Yeh car company ke 2030 tak ke wider product push ka part hai. Other than this, parent company Stellantis ne bhi India mein apne upcoming product offensive ko fund karne ke liye next three years mein fresh Rs 4,000 crore invest karne ka commitment diya hai. Why is India important?
India ke liye iska main reason cost hai. 2CV EV European market ke entry-level segment mein compete karegi, jahan margins kaafi thin hai or competition bhi rapidly increase ho raha hai. Affordable Chinses brands ne European market mein apna share kaafi tezi se increase kiya hai, or ab Stellantis ko bhi ek aise low-cost manufacturing base ki need hai, jahan se woh in brands ko pricing ke aspect mein head on fight de sake. India iss brief mein prefectly fit hota hai. Brazil ke saath India bhi Europe ke outside Citroen ke key production hubs mein se ek hai, jahan company apni low-cost C3 family ki cars manufacture karti hai. Tamil Nadu mein located Thiruvallur plant, jo ab CK Birla Group ki stake buyout karne ke baad completely Stellantis ke ownership mein hai, yahan C3, eC3, Aircross or Basalt manufacture ki jaati hai, jinmein 95 percent se zyada localisation dekhi jaa sakti hai. Currently, yeh plant eight international markets mein cars export karta hai, or Stellantis ka plan hai ki production ko iss year ke around 16,000 units se increase kar ke 2028 tak 43,000 units se bhi zyada kiya jaaye. Agar 2CV EV ki production bhi India mein start hoti hai, toh na sirf existing manufacturing capacity ke better utilisation ho payega, rather plant ki overall production capacity ko or bhi expand karne mein help milegi. Trade policy bhi ismein help kar sakti hai. India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), jo iss year ke starting mein conclude hua tha, usse long run mein India se Europe ko exports karna or bhi attractive ho sakta hai. The difficulties
India mein 2CV ko affordable price par build karne ke liye EV components ka ek local supplier base develop karna kaafi important hoga, jo at present India mein abhi nascent stage mein hai. Starting mein, for instance, iska electric motor Leapmotor se liya jaa sakta hai, jo ek Chinese EV maker hai or jismein Stellantis ka stake bhi hai. Isse manufacturing costs ko low rehne mein help mil sakti hai. Domestic market ki baat karein so yahan situation thodi tricky ho jaati hai. India traditionally ek small-car market raha hai, but abb A-segment cars ki demand gradually shrink ho rahi hai and is segment mein apni jagah banana kaafi difficult ho gaya hai. Hyundai ne bhi Eon or second generation Santro ke saath is segment mein try kiya tha, but both these models are not successful. Mahindra or Toyota toh is segment se completely door hi rehte hai. Wahin other side, Maruti Suzuki abb bhi Alto or S-Presso ke saath is segment mein dominate karti hai, whereas Tata Motors Tiago ko ICE or EV both forms mein offer karti hai. Small EVs ke liye bhi India mein apni jagah banana kaafi difficult raha hai. MG Comet, jo ki Indian marketn mein 2CV EV ke more close option ke form par dekhi jaa sakti hai, woh bhi abhi every month around 1,000 units hi sell kar paati hai. Other than this pricing bhi ek big hurdle hai. Agar is car ki price €15,000 ke around rakhi jaati hai, so Indian market mein yeh entry-level EVs ke comparison mein kaafi expensive ho jaayegi. That's why agar Citroen CV ko India mein successful banana hai, so company ko iski cost significantly reduce karni hogi or deep localisation par bhi focus karna padega. Is segment mein car ki pricing or uske size ka combination bhi kaafi important role play karta hai, jo 2CV ke liye challenge ko or difficult bana deta hai. At present, India mein is car ke liye ek big sales market ke instead manufacturing hub banne ke chances zyada nazar aate hai, jahan se ise global markets mein export kiya jaa sake. Completing a full circle 2CV 1950ko India mein introduce karne ki baat pehle bhi ho chuki hai. 1980s ke late years mein, Escort ne Citroen ke saath tie-up karne ka plan banaya tha so that original 2CV ko India mein manufacture kiya jaa sake. Is project ke liye Escorts ne government se manufacturing license ke liye bhi approach kiya tha. But us time Indian automotive industry abhi delicensing phase mein nahi aayi thi, or governmrnt se approval nahi milne ki wajah se Escorts ka yeh project further nahi jaa paya. Original Citroen 2CV ko 1949 tak produce kiya gaya tha, and iss car ko specially low-income buyers ke liye ek affordable, fuel-efficient and versatile car ke form par develop kiya gaya tha. Is car ko iss tarah design kiya gaya tha ki yeh four people or 50kg luggage ko easily carry kar sake, although its top speed is very modest. Development ke time Citroen ne ek interesting requirement bhi rakhi thi ki 2CV ko ek ploughed field se eggs ki basket carry karke le jaana chahiye without breaking any eggs. Isse aap samajh sakte hai ki company ne is car ke ride quality or suspenstion comfort par kitna focus kiya tha. Is car ki demand itni strong thi ki 1950 tak buyers ko delivery ke liye several years tak wait karna pad raha tha. Abb, new version mein bhi original 2CV ke iconic round headlights, curved roof or fabric sunroof ko retain kiya gaya hai, but most biggest change yeh hai ki traditional air-cooled twin-cylinder engine ki jagah abb electric motor dekhne ko milegi. More incoming Citroen
beyond the 2CV, Citroen 2030 tak apni lineup mein ek C-SUV or ek D-segment MPV bhi add karegi, Currently brand ki lineup mein C3, eC3, Aircross, Basalt or C5 Aircross jaise models include hai. other than this, India mein CNG segment mein Stellantis ke expansion ko bhi Citroen hi lead karegi. EV segment ki baat karein so at present eC3 brand ka immediate focus bani rahegi. However, Stellantis India ke CEO Shailesh Hazela ne abhi tak confirm nahi kiya hai ki company future mein electric Aircross launch karne ki planning kar rahi hai ya nahi. Hazela ne add kiya ki Citroen abb local or dealer-led marketing ko increase kar raha hai, saath hi more affordable showroom or service formats develop kiye jaa rahe hai. Unhone ek news portal ko bataya ki company ka investment sirf products, manufacturing or localisation tak hi limited nahi rahega, rather customer experience ko improve karne par bhi focus kiya jaayega. News Source: Autocar India