France – The C84 project is part of a product strategy which will involve the launch of four new models in less than 18 months. Based on the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2), the Citroen will enter production by 2018.
“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,” commented Carlos Tavares, chairman of the management board, PSA Group.Rennes was allocated the new vehicle after PSA Group carried out an assessment over several months, incorporating performance measures taken by the plant and commitments made to upgrades; the vehicle was originally intended for production outside Europe. PSA says that Rennes will receive an investment of €100m ($112.7m) to implement “modern, agile manufacturing processes”, with work scheduled to begin early next year and be completed in 2018.
The new crossover will be made alongside the future Peugeot 5008 and the Citroen E-Mehari. Production of these three models is expected to raise output from 60,000 currently to 100,000 vehicles per year.
The introduction of the Citroen vehicle is part of the product offensive in PSA’s ‘Push to Pass’ expansion plan, which includes 34 new models.