French manufacturer Citroën said its global sales increased by 6,3 per cent in 2002 compared with the previous year, helped by the addition of two models, the C3 and C8.
French manufacturer Citroën said its global sales increased by 6,3 per cent in 2002 compared with the previous year, helped by the addition of two models, the C3 and C8.
Citroën said it recorded global sales of 1 312 000 vehicles in 2002, with growth consistent across all markets. On a worldwide market that was down three per cent, it grew registrations by one per cent, increasing PC and LCV market penetration from 6,4 per cent to 6,7 per cent in 2002.
“All the models in the range contributed to this growth and the major selling points were their modern design and, above all, their ability to meet customer requirements and expectations,” said Derek Bromfield, CEO of Citroën South Africa.
“The year 2002 was another good year for Citroën, which expanded its range to include two new models: the compact C3 and the eight-seater C8 MPV. Like the other vehicles in the range, these new models are attracting a growing number of customers worldwide. With their modern design and styling, Citroën cars offer a perfect fit with customer requirements,” he added.
The manufacturer sold 185 000 C3s in 2002, well above its own target of 150 000 for the year. “The C3 was named imported car of the year 2002 in Japan, and car of the year 2003 in Spain, Hungary, the Netherlands, Croatia and Denmark. Declared in Italy, it has also won the ‘Autobest 2003’ trophy in nine Central European countries and the family car of the year 2003 prize in Belgium. It is also a finalist in this year’s COTY competition in South Africa,” said Bromfield.
There was also a nine per cent rise in sales of the Xsara Picasso model. “The Xsara Picasso – Citroën’s other people-carrier – continues to pursue a successful commercial career. Three years after its launch, Citroën topped the 625 000 mark for sales of the Xsara Picasso worldwide,” said Bromfield. Citroën also sold more than 161 000 C5 models worldwide in 2002.
The manufacturer does not report its local sales.