Citroën to roll out new crossover by 2018

By CARSIFU | 21 June 2016


PARIS: After having sold three million cars last year, the second largest carmaker in Europe - PSA Group (Peugeot, Citroën and DS) has announced that it will roll out a new Citroën crossover from its plant in Rennes, France, within the next two years (2018).

As part of the product offensive included in the ‘Push to Pass’ plan, which includes 34 new models, the Rennes plant will start manufacturing a new market-winning vehicle for Citroën by 2018.

The ‘C84’ project is part of a dynamic product strategy will see four new models launched by the brand in less than 18 months.

Based on the EMP2 platform, the new Crossover will be manufactured alongside the future Peugeot 5008 and the Citroën E-Mehari.

With these three models, output at the plant will ultimately reach 100,000 vehicles per annum compared to its current 60,000 units.

The Rennes plant was chosen after a study carried out by the company over several months, reflecting the performance measures taken by the plant and the commitments made to upgrade operations.

The plant's upgrade plan puts forward several ground-breaking solutions, with the introduction of modern, agile manufacturing processes, with work beginning in early 2017 and scheduled to be completed in 2018.

The upgrade represents a €100 million investment, which will also benefit other automotive industry players in the UK.

An agreement - "Contract for the Future of Rennes", was signed on April 29 at the plant, with the support of five of the Group’s six trade unions (CFDT, CFE/CGC, CFTC, FO and SIA/GSEA), representing more than 80% of employees.

The decision to manufacture the new vehicle in Rennes was subject to this agreement, which will come into force on Jan 1, 2017.

"The decision to manufacture this new vehicle in Rennes shows that, when stakeholders are committed to working together to secure the future of a manufacturing plant, they can create the performance conditions necessary in a continuous efficiency improvement process," said PSA Group managing board chairman Carlos Tavares.