Citroën Resists And Strengthens Its Assets In 2008

PARIS, France – January 13, 2009: In Western Europe, in a market that contracted sharply (-8.8%), Citroën's market share was stable at 6.5%, with a 0.3-point acceleration in the last quarter. Citroën confirmed its leadership position in the compact MPV segment with the C4 Picasso. The new C5, launched in April for the saloon version and in June for the Tourer, got off to a highly successful start, exceeding objectives in Europe. The C1, an economical and ecological leader, achieved a 0.3-point gain in market share in its segment.

France: double record with best sales and strongest market share in 30 years
In a market down 0.6%, Citroën grew sales 5.4% to a record 368,000 registrations. The Marque’s car + LCV market share totalled 14.7%, up from 13.8% in 2007, for its best performance since 1980.

Germany: record market share
In a 2008 German market that shrank 1.7%, Citroën scored its best performance with car + LCV market share of 2.6%, compared with 2.5% in 2007. This success was driven by a 0.3-point increase in the LCV market (5.2% à 5.5%) and the strong results of the C1, C4 and C4 Picasso.

Spain: Citroën led the market for the 3rd consecutive year
In a market that plummeted 29.8%, Citroën market share was down 0.9 points, but the Marque kept its car + LCV leadership position. The Berlingo is the best-seller in its segment, as is the C4 Picasso in the compact MPV segment.

UK: Citroën the most resilient French brand
Amid a market contraction of 11.7% and the fall in sterling, Citroën was the most resilient French brand, with market share of 4.2%, down 0.3 points on 2007.

Italy: the Marque advances
On a market that fell 12.9%, Citroën increased its sales performance to obtain a 5.4% share of the market in 2008, up from 5.3% in 2007. The Marque ranks fifth in the car market and made the biggest advance in the Italian LCV top ten.

In addition, on the strength of its sales offensive in the professional market, Citroën made a 0.3-point increase in this segment in these countries.

Elsewhere in Western Europe, Citroën grew its market share in Belgium and Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands With a 2.8% sales increase in Belgium and Luxembourg, Citroën boosted its market share to 10.5%, compared with 10.4% in 2007. Citroën grew LCV sales 17.7% in a stable market to become the leader. The Marque scored a 0.2-point increase in market share in Austria (3.9% à 4.1%) and Denmark (7.9% à 8.2%), and a 0.3-point advance in the Netherlands (4.7% à 5%).

In Central and Eastern Europe
, where the car + LCV market was down 1.8%, Citroën maintained its market share at 3.1%. In Turkey, in a market that contracted 16.9%, the Marque grew its market share by 0.3 points (2.3% à 2.6%).

In Russia
, for the first year of Citroën’s Russian subsidiary, the Marque maintained its market share at 0.4%. Following a period of continuous growth, the market broke down in the last quarter, shrinking 12.8%, while Citroën grew sales 36.6% over the same period.

In Latin America
, Citroën increased sales 23.4% and grew its market share 0.3 points (1.7% à 2%). Citroën sales rose 37.8% in Brazil and 4.4% in Argentina on the strength of the C4 Picasso launch and the excellent performances of the C4 Pallas and C4 Sedan and the restyled C3.

In China
, Citroën’s market share is currently 2%, down 0.3 points. In 2008, the Marque launched the C Elysée and the C Quatre three-volume saloon, whose full effects will be felt in 2009.

Successful products

In the first full year on the market of the C4 Picasso (5-seater) visiospace, the C4 Picasso family (5- and 7-seater vehicles) is No. 1 in the compact MPV segment in Western Europe. with almost 188,000 units sold.

The new C5, launched in April for the saloon and June for the Tourer, is exceeding sales targets worldwide. The figures are particularly noteworthy in Italy, Germany, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. In France, the C5 claimed the No. 1 spot in its segment in September and has topped the 25,000 sales mark.

With the new Berlingo, launched in May, and Nemo, launched in February, Citroën has a range of five commercial vehicles. Almost one Citroën vehicle in every five sold worldwide is an LCV.

Technologies serving the environment

Citroën sets high standards in both ecology and economy. It was the first to bring customers a Stop&Start system on the C2 and C3, cutting fuel consumption by up to 12% in the city, and it also pioneered the particulate filter.

The Marque is the European leader in clutchless gearboxes, cutting fuel consumption by up to 5%.

With the Citroën C1, which emits 106 g of CO2 per km, Citroën is the leading manufacturer of ecological and economical vehicles. It has a 24% share of the segment for vehicles emitting less than 110 g.

On the C4, restyled in the second-half of 2008, two new HDi diesel engines considerably improve ecological performance.

Customer satisfaction and greater brand renown

Customer satisfaction: in order to rank among the very best on service quality, Citroën introduced a new policy and new action plans last year. Initial results are particularly encouraging, with outstanding progress in customer surveys in France, Germany, the UK, China and South America.

Brand renown: in Europe, Citroën has considerably increased unprompted brand recall (by 7 points) in seven years. At the same time, other manufacturers progressed by just one point or remained stable. In Brazil and Argentina, Citroën is the brand reporting the strongest increase, with an unprompted brand recall score that almost doubled between 2001 and 2008.

Motor sports: success for S. Loeb and D. Elena with the C4 WRC
With four “manufacturers” WRC crowns under its belt, five “drivers and co-drivers” titles, and 14 titles for Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, Citroën entered the annals of motor racing history in 2008.

ASSETS TO BEAT THE CRISIS

Citroën is squaring up to 2009 with a range of strong assets: a new compact MPV and a project to accelerate the brand dynamic.

C3 Picasso: a car to beat the crisis Big inside and small outside, the C3 Picasso is Citroën’s latest MPV. It combines ecology and economy with innovative styling reflecting its cheeky and appealing personality. It ranks among the best on the market for its CO2 emissions. Xxx The C3 Picasso will be launched in first-quarter 2009 in Europe.

Citroën reinvents itself

Citroën is set to reinvent itself from 6 February 2009.