Citroën begins trial production for C5 Aircross

CITROëN WILL enter India in early-2021 with the C5 Aircross SUV. It was originally scheduled to be launched around September 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic. The carmaker recently started trial production of the C5 Aircross at its Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu, which will be Citroën’s first offering for the Indian market.

While the details of the India-spec C5 Aircross are yet unknown, it is expected to be offered with both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engine is expected to be a 1.6-litre turbocharged motor rated at 180bhp and 250Nm, while the diesel engine is likely to be a 2.0litre unit developing 176bhp and 400Nm.

The SUV is expected to get a panoramic sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hands-free parking, powered driver seat, dual-zone climate control, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Expected safety features include multiple airbags, front and rear parking sensors, and hill-start

assist.

TATA MOTORS denied selling up to 49 per cent stake in its domestic passenger vehicle (PV) business. In this context, Tata Motors clarified that all such published news and the names of potential partners/investors mentioned is incorrect and misleading. Furthermore, the company said securing a mutually beneficial alliance is a priority. However, it is not an imperative for today but an opportunity to be secured for tomorrow. This statement comes in response to a report stating that Tata Motors inducted a foreign strategic partner in its India passenger vehicle business by transferring the unit to a wholly-owned subsidiary for Rs 9,417 crore.