China's "love" of French luxury products will lead Citroen to produce DS models specifically for China
Burgeoning demand from China is likely to add several models to the Citroen DS model line-up, according to PSA's veteran brand chief, Frederic Saint-Geours.
Explaining the group's strategy for escaping from its 'too mainstream' market positioning, Saint-Geours told Automotive News that the Chinese market for premium cars had reached 25 per cent, which made it numerically larger than Europe's premium market.
"We are confident the DS line will have success in China," he said, "because so many Chinese investors are asking us to become DS dealers. The Chinese love French luxury.
"We will develop new DS versions specifically for China: a C-segment sedan, a D-segment sedan and an SUV. We will also sell these models elsewhere in the world. Thus the expansion of the DS line in China might also help us strengthen it in Europe."
Citroen is readying its C-Elysée and the C4 L to launch in Chinese and Russian markets. The C4 L is the first to emerge from the firm's Shanghai style centre.