Citroen
Case CITROEN
Citroen C3
- File updated
- 2026-06-18
- Facts collected
- 7
- IP Ownership
- foreign
Current Score
Mostly Indian (Key Imports)
Our Verdict: The C3 is built in Thiruvallur near Chennai, and its engines are manufactured in Hosur. While the platform design belongs globally to Stellantis, Indian R&D teams helped develop it. The manual gearbox is built locally, but the automatic gearbox is imported from Aisin in Japan. Mid and top models now come with 6 airbags as standard.
How it's Sourced: The C3 is built on a platform co-developed by engineers in India. Over 90% of its parts are sourced from local suppliers, and manual gearboxes and engine parts are made in Hosur. However, high-tech electronic components and automatic transmissions are imported.
Findings
A vehicle is the sum of its supply chain. Each domain below represents a critical finding in our investigation.
- Powertrain
- The PureTech petrol engine is manufactured locally in Hosur with a 60% local parts ratio.
- Stellantis Avtec Powertrain India (integrator, India)
- Indian
- Transmission
- Manual gearboxes are made in Hosur (with most of them exported), while automatic gearboxes are imported from Aisin in Japan.
- Stellantis India (Hosur) (manufacturer manual, India)
- Aisin (supplier automatic, Japan)
- Mixed
- Body & Chassis
- The body panels and frame are made locally in Tamil Nadu, achieving a very high 95% to 98% localization rate.
- Stellantis India (Thiruvallur) (manufacturer, India)
- Indian
- Electronics & Safety Systems
- There are no driver-assist systems (ADAS), but the car comes with 6 standard airbags and stability control.
- Stellantis India R&D (developer, India)
- Mixed
- Design & Platform
- The car's frame and platform were co-designed by engineering teams in India and Europe.
- Stellantis Chennai Technical Centre (developer, India)
- Indian
- Assembly
- The C3 is assembled in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, which crossed the 50,000-vehicle production milestone in early 2026.
- PCA Automobiles (Stellantis) (integrator, India)
- Indian
WEIGHT: 20%
Key Suppliers
WEIGHT: 15%
Key Suppliers
WEIGHT: 20%
Key Suppliers
WEIGHT: 15%
Key Suppliers
WEIGHT: 15%
Key Suppliers
WEIGHT: 15%
Key Suppliers
The Audit Trail
Every finding above is backed by the atomic facts below. We link to primary sources, OEM financials, and triangulated journalism.
- FACT c_assem2026-04-23
Assembled at the Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu, which achieved its milestone 50,000th Smart Car platform vehicle rollout on April 23, 2026.
"Stellantis India today announced the rollout of its 50,000th vehicle from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Thiruvallur, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth journey in India."
Primary OEM or Regulatory SourceStellantis India Corporate Communications↗ - FACT c_design2026-04-23
The CMP (Smart Car) platform was co-developed and industrialized by R&D teams in India to serve as a base for global markets.
"The achievement reflects the success of Stellantis' Smart Car platform, developed in India for India and rest of the world by R&D teams in India leading the programme's development and industrialisation."
Primary OEM or Regulatory SourceStellantis India Corporate Communications↗ - FACT c_platform_012025-09-01
Stellantis announced an additional investment of Rs 2,000 crore in 2024 to upgrade its Indian facilities for localized ICE and EV production.
"with Stellantis announcing an additional ₹2,000 crore commitment in 2024 to upgrade facilities and introduce electric vehicles, aiming to capture a larger share of India's growing passenger vehicle segment."
Corroborated by independent automotive journalismCitroën India - Industrial & Strategy Wiki↗ - FACT c_engine2025-11-20
The 1.2L PureTech (naturally aspirated and turbo Gen-3) engines are manufactured at Hosur with a 60:40 local-to-import ratio.
"The Hosur facility produces three engine families - the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol (Gen-3) and the 2.0-litre SDE diesel... the engine shop runs on a 60:40 local-to-import ratio"
Corroborated by independent automotive journalismHT Auto↗ - FACT c_trans2025-11-20
The manual transmission (5MT/6MT) is built locally in Hosur with 95% exported globally, whereas the automatic transmission is an imported 6-speed torque converter from Aisin Japan.
"This is the same 6-speed Aisin-sourced torque converter gearbox we get with other C-Cubed vehicles like C3 Aircross and Basalt... Nearly 95 per cent of the output is exported, supplying more than 20 markets across Europe, Turkey, the Middle East and Latin America."
Corroborated by independent automotive journalismRushlane & HT Auto↗ - FACT c_safety_airbags2024-03-22
Citroen introduced standard 6 airbags, ESC, ISOFIX anchors, and rear seatbelt reminders from July 2024 to radically upgrade passenger protection.
"The French marque will introduce six airbags, ISOFIX anchors and rear seat belt reminders as standard fitment across its localised lineup starting from the second half of 2024, i.e., July 2024."
Corroborated by independent automotive journalismGaadify News↗ - FACT c_local_high2022-11-24
The ICE version of the Citroen C3 has achieved up to 95%-98% localization through a robust Tamil Nadu-based supplier base.
"The Citroen C3, produced at Thiruvallur plant near Chennai, has reached a level of 95% to 98% localization."
Corroborated by independent automotive journalismEconomic Times Auto↗
Our Standards
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