Citroën in India announced this past week that is has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first multinational car manufacturer there to export locally manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) to international markets. This move underscores the company’s commitment to producing sustainable transportation solutions in alignment with India’s “Make in India’ initiative.
Commenting on the occasion, Aditya Jairaj, CEO & MD of Stellantis India, said;
“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 Citroën 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.”
Lise Talbot Barre, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai, hailed the Indian-French industrial cooperation demonstrated by the export of the Citroën e-C3. She emphasized the mutual commitment of the two nations towards achieving cleaner mobility globally.
“The export of e-C3 to Indonesia signifies a step forward in promoting cleaner mobility solutions in the ASEAN region.”
[ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has 10 member states; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.]
The e-C3 offers a 320 km range and fast charging options.
In addition to the e-C3, Citroën began exporting the internal combustion engine C3 to ASEAN and African markets last year.
This move is part of Stellantis Dare Forward Mission 2030, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038 and significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2030. Stellantis plans to expand its electric vehicle portfolio and increase global annual EV sales to five million vehicles by 2030.
Production of Citroëns in India has been a Stellantis measure to not only introduce the brand there, but to drive down costs on vehicles manufactured in India to achieve maximum profit.