Citroen to America by Way of Canada?

[YSSMAN]

...Another one bites the dust!

French automaker Citroen is considering importing its vehicles to Canada, according to Ward's Auto. "If we can homologate our cars in Canada, it's a potential," Frederic Banzet, vice-president-international sales told the trade publication. "We're looking at it."

Citroen feels an increased interest in diesels could allow the brand to succeed in North America. "North America is talking about diesels," Citroen's Banzet says. "In Canada they are a good move for the environment. With the particulate filter, the diesel is the best answer today."

Ward's speculates Canada may be something of a beachhead into all of North America. In other words, if things go well in Canada, the United States might be next.

Very interesting, or atleast I think so. I've become quite interested with Citroen's products over the past year or so, much of that spear-headed by products like the C4 and C6. Their styling is very "different" for the US, and I think it would be very interesting to see the cars on the road here. Granted they are French, and we do have that whole "anti-French" thing going on (I do it, I know...), but this would be cool if they decide to do so.

...But it does make me wonder...

If Citroen is (possibly) comming over, will Peugeot do the same? Again, they are very similar cars in the same way that Chevrolet and Pontiac do the same things, but if they could parter up in a dealership... Say Peugeot selling the lower-level models (207 anyone?) and Citroen covering the high-end stuff (C6!), why not?

As they say, it is becoming a question of diesel power here in the US, and it will be cool if things work out as planned. We as Americans should theoretically be able to go to Canada and buy a Citroen and bring it across the border (our vehicle laws are pretty similar), so although we may be limited to doing it as such, we are getting Citroens no less...

SOMETHING DIFFERENT, FINIALLY!

 

[SagarisGTB]

Citroëns are usually priced below Peugeot's, so I dont where you are coming from with this upscale citroën thing. I cant believe I just put "upscale" and "Citroën" in the same sentence. Oops, I just did it again!

Anyway, I think you are really missing the real news here. It is not "Citroën may come to US later", the news is "Citroën is coming to Canada!".

 

[YSSMAN]

...Is it the other way around? I would have thought differently by what I had seen on the internet...

Oh well, either way, bring them here and there could be a big enough market to sell them.

 

[Danny]

Citroen in the US?

Should be good, but what you really want is Renault.

 

[Poverty]

lol americans find german cars unreliable, never mind what they would thing about the ferench jobs if they do end up getting them

 

[YSSMAN]

...I would rather have Renault, you are right about that ultrabeat. But, Citroen could pave the way to have a few Renaults come over through our Nissan dealers, maybe.

German cars unreliable? Yes and no, Poverty. I mean, yes they are quite notorious for being somewhat shoddy in the build-quality department here in the US, particularly when compared with the Japanese models, but most people don't care.

...Lets put it this way: If the French models we are talking about are generally on-par with that of American and Korean models, they will do just fine...

 

[Danny]

...I would rather have Renault, you are right about that ultrabeat. But, Citroen could pave the way to have a few Renaults come over through our Nissan dealers, maybe.

Generally speaking, Citroen cars are of a lower general quality than Renault.

Better car in bold.
C1-Twingo
C2/C3-Clio
C4-Megane (Jury's still out. No direct comparisons as far as I know)
C5-Laguna
C6-Vel Satis
Xsara Picasso-Scenic
C8-Espace

 

[YSSMAN]

I don't think we would be getting everything here in this country. My guess would be that the more "average" models like the C4 and the C6 would be the choises, but that of course is just a guess. The C1? Maybe. I think Citroen would wait to see how well the Aygo goes over in the US after the car makes its debut here, but I think as long as they have a (American) Civic and (American) Accord compeditor, they will do fine.

 

[JCE]

Citroen in the US?

Should be good, but what you really want is Renault.

Yes, we very much want Renault here. Oh and Peugeot + Citroen will be a welcome site to the same old boring sludge the US gets.

 

[YSSMAN]

Definately. No matter how "crappy" the cars may be, its something different. Trust me, different is good!

...Which is funny, because we Americans get all excited about what could be comming here when many Europeans just shrug it off. Maybe it is because they live with it every day, but it certainly isn't the same Impala, Camry, Taurus, Camry, Accord, Impala, Camry boring that we live with every day...

 

[Danny]

I find that really odd. You say there's excitements when Euro-models reach you, but when US cars arrive here, there's not much to do?

I don't get that, when I know US made cars are much higher quality thatn they were a few years ago, and a genuinely a threat to Audi, Lexus and the like.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well its more of a feeling where Americans would say:

"Holy cow, its a Renault Clio! I've never seen anything like that before. Where the hell do they build that? France? Huh, that is really cool, very different indeed!"

Where as a European might say:

"So is that the new Clio? Meh, I liked the old one better."

---

I mean, I'm happy to hear that American cars are going over a bit better in Europe, but even then, you aren't getting our "average" coupes and sedans yet. Quite honestly, I doubt they would sell well there to begin with.

But it is certainly a difference between what you have, and what you do not. When you're living with the same things every day you never really think about why things are so cool to different people.

...We had some German tourists come into our store the other day, and to be completely honest I had no idea why 1) They were in Michigan 2) In Grand Rapids no less 3) In Steve and Barrys and 4) So amazed with so many things.

But when you live with the same things every day, you are desensitized to it all. I'm sure that if I was in Germany, even in a two-horse town, shopping I would be walking about with a sense of amazement, gawking at things other people would otherwise write off as "average."

---

...But, back on track here, this wouldn't be the first time that non-US models have gotten people excited. A while back there were stories published in American magazines about models like the Street Ka and SMART Roadster and it put some folks in a tizzy out there on the streets. They were different, people liked them, and they wanted to buy one for themselves.

In Europe, I'm sure they'd probably think we're all crazy.

 

[Danny]

*snip, which is a shame because it's a great post*
I mean, I'm happy to hear that American cars are going over a bit better in Europe, but even then, you aren't getting our "average" coupes and sedans yet. Quite honestly, I doubt they would sell well there to begin with.
*snip, again*

True, and may I be so bold as to claim that America is much better at Supercars and Sportscars than everyday family vehicles?

Please say if you disagree, but I feel that generally speaking, most American manufacturers aren't exactly sure who they're targeting, whereas European, Japanese and even Korean makes have a specific audience so they can focus parts of the car.
So, im gross und ganz, family motoring is blurry, but the neanderthalic, fast charms of the high end sports cars are excellent. No?

 

[usedHONDA]

they would be a good seller

 

[YSSMAN]

True, and may I be so bold as to claim that America is much better at Supercars and Sportscars than everyday family vehicles?

Yes and no I suppose. I think your reasoning there is indeed well founded as the overwhelming majority of "well-known" American models are indeed intended for sporty driving, or just going as fast as possible in a straight line.

But I wouldn't completely count out most of our family cars either. I think to many Europeans they would be considered to be a bit sub-par in some circumstances, but to get a good sense of what the overwhelming majority of American family sedans are like in the US, look no further than the Chrysler 300C, the Mazda 6 (Ford Fusion), and Opel Vectra (Malibu, G6, Aura). Great cars in their own right, but of course may not meet all of the standards in every market.

What it comes down to in my view of American automakers is that they build what Americans would expect. Well built cars that are indeed designed to carry a five-person family comfortably down the road from point A to point B. The difference here is that many American cars are purpose-built for the Highway and the occasional backroad, while European and Japanese cars tend to be at a better balance between the two types of road.

The good news is that things are changing here with our cars, particularly the family coupes and sedans. General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler have all realised that having global products would help their bottom-line, and added to that would satisfy tastes around the world, meeting the demands of everyone. That is why we saw the Chrysler LX platform spun off of the old E-Class, Ford's success with the Focus, and GM's comitment to a global RWD platform with the Zeta program.

We can build great cars, particularly for Americans. The problem is, so many of our cars are built ONLY for Americans. That is indeed changing, and with new products like the Zeta coupes and sedans, American cars should be able to compete with the best of the world.

 

[harrytuttle]

I'm all for it. Not that either Peugeot or Citroen have anything I'm interested in but it may help Renault cross the pond, which I am interested in (especially any thing with "Cup" or "Trophy" in the name). And it will show Americans that even "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" can make better economy cars than they can.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'll be honest. I don't know as much about Citroen as I would like. I think the Citroen C3 is a pretty nice supermini. I think my favorite color for it is a sort of royal blue. Don't know the actual color name. The Citroen C5 (not to be confused with the Corvette C5) is also a very nice sedan. I'm going to use Citroen's United Kingdom page to get some preference on what current Citroens are in business (that site is: http://www.citroen.co.uk ). Most rally fans know of the wonderful Citroen Xsara, which has been the new "it" car for the World Rally Championship. It's a great rally car when Sebastien Loeb is putting on wicked rally performances with it. I'm not going to say that they have some ugly cars, but more like some hit-and-miss designs. The C3 and C5 are certainly hit designs. The newer C6 is a little of a toss-up of hit-and-miss. I'm not really a fan of elongated lights like the brake lights on the Nissan 350Z. The C6 has a rather unorthodox appearance. The C6 is kind of like the Scion tC or the Chevy Malibu Maxx in the respect of a sedan or coupe in having somewhat of a hatchback look. I always say that if you want to be designing cars different from others, it has to work. It has to be wonderful. Otherwise, you have an unstylish car that not people will actually consider acceptable or nice. And it's funny I talk about this because in an older volume of Automobile Magazine on some specific Lincoln that Lincoln should take some risks in designing cars rather than copying the Japanese. The volume also noted, "...look at Cadillac" in regards to styling of cars. Most of you already know how I feel about Cadillac, so I need not go further.

If their quality can hold up in the states, they'll be money. As long as Americans don't feel like they are inferior because they're driving in French cars, all is well. So let's do some percentages. What are the chances (out of 100%)...

(1.) ...that this Citroen -> Canada -> America deal actually works out?
(2.) ...that Citroen will be successful in the United States?

 

[Danny]

I'll be honest. I don't know as much about Citroen as I would like. I think the Citroen C3 is a pretty nice supermini. I think my favorite color for it is a sort of royal blue. Don't know the actual color name. The Citroen C5 (not to be confused with the Corvette C5) is also a very nice sedan. I'm going to use Citroen's United Kingdom page to get some preference on what current Citroens are in business (that site is: http://www.citroen.co.uk ). Most rally fans know of the wonderful Citroen Xsara, which has been the new "it" car for the World Rally Championship. It's a great rally car when Sebastien Loeb is putting on wicked rally performances with it. I'm not going to say that they have some ugly cars, but more like some hit-and-miss designs. The C3 and C5 are certainly hit designs. The newer C6 is a little of a toss-up of hit-and-miss. I'm not really a fan of elongated lights like the brake lights on the Nissan 350Z. The C6 has a rather unorthodox appearance. The C6 is kind of like the Scion tC or the Chevy Malibu Maxx in the respect of a sedan or coupe in having somewhat of a hatchback look. I always say that if you want to be designing cars different from others, it has to work. It has to be wonderful. Otherwise, you have an unstylish car that not people will actually consider acceptable or nice. And it's funny I talk about this because in an older volume of Automobile Magazine on some specific Lincoln that Lincoln should take some risks in designing cars rather than copying the Japanese. The volume also noted, "...look at Cadillac" in regards to styling of cars. Most of you already know how I feel about Cadillac, so I need not go further.

If their quality can hold up in the states, they'll be money. As long as Americans don't feel like they are inferior because they're driving in French cars, all is well. So let's do some percentages. What are the chances (out of 100%)...

(1.) ...that this Citroen -> Canada -> America deal actually works out?
(2.) ...that Citroen will be successful in the United States?

1) If it goes down well in Canada, then I'd say 80% chance you'd get them too.
2) Hmm. Tougher for me to predict since I'm not 100% on US buying habits. But if the new waves of freshly styled US SUVs, family saloons (ok, sedans) and other such like is any indication, the US as a whole is becoming more style-concious. A style concious country is exactly where the Citroen brand will flourish.

The thing about Citroen is that most cars they produce are stylish but flimsy "also-rans". However, when they get it right, they get it very right.
If you buy one, you'll love it to death. But if you get out of a BMW, Merc or Cadillac, you may feel short changed, but then again Citroens famously aggressive discounts will likely mean you paid a hefty amount less for your C5 than you did for your CTS.

 

[JCE]

Citroen C6 FTW!

 

[L8 Apex]

My dad and I went to the L.A. Auto Show this past January and some supplier of sunroofs and other automotive glass applications had a C4 3-door at their booth. They even let me sit in it and, as I recall, the fit and finish was awfully close to Toyota or Honda levels, i.e. well ahead of the domestics! Combine that with its endearingly quirky design cues and featues and it would definitely get a lot of attention from American car shoppers. Hell, sell a C4 5-door or wagon with a 50-state diesel for around $25k and and I'd definitely put it on my comparison list.

 

[YSSMAN]

If their quality can hold up in the states, they'll be money. As long as Americans don't feel like they are inferior because they're driving in French cars, all is well. So let's do some percentages. What are the chances (out of 100%)...

(1.) ...that this Citroen -> Canada -> America deal actually works out?
(2.) ...that Citroen will be successful in the United States?

Argueably the car is going to depend greatly on the "youth" market that so many companies are chasing after these days. Given that brands like Scion are certainly selling their cars based uppon looks, Citroen could easily do the same, and I'd call it right now; The brand would be outrageously popular with the female sex here in the US.

So, to better answer your more specific questions:

1) I'd stick the figures at a solid 80%, but with some fudgy workings, quite a few will sneak across the border, and you can bet that there will be a growing public interest. I'd say maybe by the close of the decade we could see a few here and there, but nothing major happening "right away" here.

2) To be a success however they are going to need to poke around in the market, and that may be a problem. They are either going to need to go "Youth" market, or mainstream to be successful here, thusly their most-expensive model not going for any more than $40K (USD) fully-loaded. I'd venture a guess and say that the C4 and C6 would be the "creme-de-la-creme" models here, maybe a bit of play with the C1 (depending on the success of the Aygo once it gets here), and from there it is anyone's guess. I'd say "Berlingo," but since GM will have that market covered, why bother (lol)? Success: 75%, depending on models and pricing.

...Better question: Popularity? An easy 90% in this increasingly style-driven market...