Citroen looking to increase auto sales in Russia to 50,000 per yr in 2013
ST. PETERSBURG. May 25 (Interfax) - French carmaker Citroen intends to increase sales in Russia to 50,000 per year in 2013, Citroen's chief in Russia Jean Louis Shamla told reporters in St. Petersburg on Friday.
The company is looking to sell 40,000 automobiles in Russia this year, which would be 40% more than it did last year, Shamla said.
As to production plans for the plant in Kaluga, Shamla said the enterprise is now turning out 1,500 to 1,700 vehicles per month. "These are Citroen C4s and Citroen C-Crossers. In 2013, we will launch a new model line of Citroen automobiles," he said.
With the launch of a new model in the first half of next year, Citroen production in Kaluga will increase to 2,200 vehicles per month, and to 3,000 in 2014.
Shamla did not provide additional information on the new model, but said it would be forthcoming in July.
The plant in Kaluga, which has been producing automobiles since April 2010, assembles five models under three brands, including the Peugeot 308, Peugeot 4007, two Citroen models and one Mitsubishi model. The plant intends to switch to a complete production cycle in the middle of 2012, where localization will be at least 30%.