THE CITROËN C3 RECEIVES THE “WORLD URBAN CAR 2023” AWARD
- On April 5, the Citroën C3 received the prestigious “World Urban Car 2023” award at the New York International Auto Show by decision of a jury made up of more than 100 automotive industry experts from 32 countries.
- This award, which rewards the qualities of a model marketed on at least two continents, recognizes the relevance and international scope of the C3, a versatile car of less than 4 meters marketed in India and South America since 2022.
- The C3 is the first model in a family of three vehicles with an international vocation that are developed and produced locally. Its commercial launch was a success that helped boost the growth of the Citroën brand in India, as part of Asia, and consolidate its presence in South America.
The Citroën C3 has received the prestigious “WORLD URBAN CAR 2023” award at the 19th edition of the WORLD CAR AWARDS. The announcement was made on Wednesday, April 5, coinciding with the opening of the New York Auto Show and after the vote of more than 100 journalists from a total of 32 countries.
A highly versatile B-segment hatchback, the C3 has been praised for its modernity, assertiveness and abundant customization options. Within its segment, it stands out for its unique attitude, its high ground clearance, its unmistakable presence on the road and its high driving position. And in terms of well-being, nothing has been left to chance: in addition to the characteristic Citroën comfort, the interior space is at the top of the segment, and its intelligent design makes everyday life easier for the occupants: mobile phones can integrate and connect to a touch screen up to 10″ (25.4 cm), the XXL size. And for added convenience, exciting new features are being introduced in some regions including innovative service offerings and an online shopping channel.
A SUCCESS THAT DRIVES THE INTERNATIONAL GROWTH OF CITROËN
The new C3 represents the beginning of a new stage for Citroën characterized by the creation of models faithful to the spirit of the brand and, at the same time, subjected to a careful process of research and development by local teams whose objective is to provide an answer practice to the specific needs of each market. By taking into account the needs and social and cultural traits of the two regions in the creation of the vehicle, the new C3 becomes a model designed, developed and produced by and for South America, India and the rest of the Asian continent. This strategy has been very well received from a commercial point of view and the result is a C3 that has had a major impact on Citroën’s business in these two regions.
In India, where we are launching the Citroën brand, the C3 plays a key role. It is the first model specifically designed and integrated at the local level. Almost 7,000 units have been sold since it went on sale in the summer of 2022, helping to increase the brand’s sales by almost 880% last year. This success is also reflected in the excellent reception of the ë-C3, the electric version of the C3 produced in India, whose initial order figures are very promising.
In South America, where the C3 has been available since October 2022, more than 14,000 units have already been sold. And it is currently the 6th in its segment in Brazil, a market that has experienced a fall of 1% and in which Citroën nevertheless achieved growth of 37% in 2022. The C3 will be able to take advantage of this positive inertia to attract new customers and relaunch a brand that has been in the market for a long time.
The success of the C3 in these two regions represents a real boost for Citroën’s growth and an important contribution to a strategy aimed at increasing the brand’s global sales volumes and reducing its dependence on Europe. In 2022, India and the Asia-Pacific region saw sales increase by almost 57%, while South America saw 21.2% growth.
A LONG HISTORY OF AWARDS FOR THE C3
Since its commercial launch in India, the new C3 has won no less than 12 awards, including ‘Hatchback of the Year 2023’, from such prestigious publications as Top Gear India, Car India, Indian Vehicle Awards and Motorscribes. Praise is unanimous for the originality of its lines and its extraordinary performance, as well as its impressive behavior on the roads of India thanks to a suspension system specially adapted to demanding driving conditions. The specialized press has valued its particular design, the touch of modernity on the dashboard, the 10″ touch screen (the widest in the segment) and the 200 mm of ground clearance. The “Compact SUV of the Year 2023” award, awarded by Motor Vikatan magazine, recognizes its best-in-class comfort in terms of price/performance, and its magnificent cabin, which offers an SUV-like driving position, and has also been awarded “Car of the Year 2023”. » at the Jagran HiTech Awards, given to the best technological products.
Its first award in South America was obtained in Brazil, where it was named “Best National Car” on November 8, 2022, just two months after its launch. This is the most prestigious of the “Car Awards Brasil 2023” awards, awarded by Car Magazine. In this thirteenth edition, the criteria for choosing the best commercial launch were market share, technological innovation and design. It also won the award for “Best national car up to 1.2 L”, awarded by the Abiauto press association.
