CITROËN INDIA to Launch Its All Electric Hatchback in Feb; Partners Jio-BP for Charging Infra

Domestically manufactured Citroen eC3 has been revealed publically ahead of its official launch next month. The all new eC3 is an all-electric model based on the petrol-powered C3 hatchback. With its production facility in Chennai, the company will manufacture and export it from India. Bookings are to start from January 22nd, with the official launch of the electric hatchback slated next month.

Apart from the charging port located on front in eC3, there are no visual differences from petrol model. Internally, it is powered with highest torque of 143 Nm for front wheel. It has a 29.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an ARAI certified range of 320 km per charge.

Citroën India is keen to resolve the electric vehicle charging infrastructure issue to an extent before launching its own electric vehicles. The automaker has also announced a strategic partnership with Jio-bp, a fuels and mobility joint venture between Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and BP. Under this partnership, both the companies are said to work in EV infrastructure and services across its network.

Jio-bp will install Direct Current (DC) fast chargers across Citroën’s key dealership network and workshops across the country in phases. These chargers will also be open to the entire universe of EV car customers to help boost EV adoption among consumers.

As stated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways on 7^th December 2022 in Loksabha, there were more than 5,000 charging stations in the country. He added that the country had over 1.8 million EVs. The cars to charging ratio was very low and there was a strong need to solve the issue.

Citroën India said that the new e-C3 will be launched in Q1 2023 and partnership with Jio-bp is a big step for the company as lack of charging infra is currently the main problem for the sector in India.

The pact will make sure that Jio-bp’s charging infrastructure network are accessible via the Citroën’s Mobile app. Jio-bp is currently a prominent names in the rapidly expanding network of EV charging and swapping stations under the Jio-bp pulse brand.

Jio-bp Pulse also has a mobile app to access the whole charging networks and customers can easily locate EV charging stations in their locality. It also facilitates digital payments.