Citroën CEO Says Key to Future to Differentiating from Peugeot

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CEO Frederic Banzet says to save the company's future it will have to do two things. First, it will need to further differentiate its styling from PeugeotPeugeotFrance, 1882 > present120 models
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to avoid confusing buyers. Second, it will focus its C-line cars on entry-level buyers, while the DS cars will be aimed at buyers looking for a less expensive premium car. 

Banzet says that part of Citroën's problem has been too much overlap in terms of pricing and product with Peugeot. In the future, it plans to increase the style of the C-line cars but simplify the engine and transmission options. They will become quite modern city cars with large touchscreens and similar technology. These cars will be on sale by the second half of 2014 with the looks of the C-Cactus concept.

Citroën will no longer work with Mitsubishi on hybrids or electric models. However, the compressed air hybrids that it and Peugeot are developing with Bosch will enter production. The system reduces fuel consumption by 30% for half the cost of a similar battery hybrid system. 

Banzet also hinted that Citroën is considering a Dacia-like entry-level brand, but it does want to add further competition to itself. So the cars might be limited only to segments where Citroën does not have cars. 

Source: Automotive News Europe