Citroën Reports Stable First-Half 2008 Worldwide Sales

Citroën C1 is European No. 1 for vehicles emitting 110 g or less of CO2km

Paris, 8 July 2008 -- Citroën reports growth in France, Central and Eastern Europe and Mercosur and resilient results in Western Europe. Also, Citroën C4 Picasso confirms its success as Citroën is European No. 1 in the compact MPV segment. Additionally, ther were successful debuts by the latest models: Nemo, New C5 and New Berlingo.

2008 Citroen C4 Picasso

Highlights:
• Worldwide consolidated sales** up slightly at 765,000 units (+0.1%)
• Increased market share in France (from 14 to 14.4%) and Italy (from 5.4 to 5.6%).
• Stable market share in Western Europe (6.5%) despite strong market downturns in Spain and Italy; positive upturn in the second quarter
• Surging sales (+11.6%) and increased market share in Central and Eastern Europe
• Strong sales growth (+72%) and improved market share in Mercosur
• Successful debuts by the latest models: Nemo, New C5 and New Berlingo

(* built-up vehicles & **built-up vehicles + CKDs)

Success for the models launched in first quarter 2008

Nemo has taken 16,000 orders with the LCV version launched in February and forthcoming passenger version.

The New C5, Saloon and Tourer versions, has taken 52,000 orders since its April debut. Roll-out continues.

The New Berlingo, launched just a few weeks ago, LCV and car versions, has already notched up 33,000 orders.

Steady performance by range models

C1 sold 57,000 units, an increase of 10%, to take the position of European No. 1 in the category of economical, ecological vehicles.

C3, now in its seventh year on the market, sold 137,000 units in the first half-year.
C4 Picasso, Grand C4 Picasso and Xsara Picasso sold a total 162,000 units in first-half 2008. Citroën thus increases its lead in the European MPV market with market share of almost 23%.

C4 Sedan and C4 Pallas, in Mercosur, sold 15,600 units in the first six months of the year.

In China, C-Elysée has sold more than 9,000 units since its launch last April.

Jumpy and Jumper increased sales by 16% and 7% respectively.

Environmental leadership

Almost 30% of the vehicles sold by Citroën in Europe emit no more than 120 g of CO2/km. Almost 50% emit no more than 140 g of CO2km.

The Citroën C1 is European No. 1 for vehicles emitting no more than 110 g CO2/km, with market share of more than 25%.

1. WESTERN EUROPE: STABLE MARKET SHARE FOR CITROËN, GROWTH IN LCV MARKET

In a car/LCV market that contracted by 3%, Citroën totalled 572,000 registrations, maintaining stable market share of 6.5%.

Citroën maintained its leadership in the compact MPV segment with market share of almost 23%. It is No. 1 in this segment in seven countries: Belux, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.

It increased its share of the LCV market by 0.3 points to 9.9%.

France: Citroën boosts sales and market share in the car/LCV market

In a car/LCV market that expanded by 4.6%, Citroën increased registrations by 7.9% in first-half 2008 to take market share of 14.4%, an increase of 0.4 points.

In the car market, which expanded by 4.5%, Citroën posted a sales increase of 7.6%. This result can be partly attributed to sales on the business market (companies and leasers) as well as to the performance of the C1 (+29.8%) and the C3 (+3.4%) against a backdrop of more stringent environmental taxation. The C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso are leaders in their segment with almost 50,000 units sold in six months. The C5 had taken more than 22,000 orders at end-June.

In an LCV market that grew by 5.4%, Citroën boosted sales by 9.1% to take market share of 16.3%, compared with 15.7% in 2007.

Spain: Citroën holds steady against a backdrop of a strongly declining consumer sales

In a falling car/LCV sales market (-19%), Citroën registrations dropped by 26%. The Marque nevertheless remains No. 1 in the consumer market, which was particularly impacted, with market share of 10.9%. Citroën is also No. 1 in the compact MPV segment with market share of almost 30%.

Citroën is also No. 1 in the light commercial vehicle market, with more than 18,000 registrations and market share of 17.1%.

Italy: Citroën increases its share of the car and LCV markets in a sharply falling market
In a severely disrupted car/LCV market (-11%), Citroën limited the fall in sales to 8.6% to take market share of 5.6% in first-half 2008, compared with 5.4% in 2007. It thus consolidated its position as the leading French manufacturer.

With market share of 8.4%, Citroën became the second most popular make in the B segment. This segment accounts for 65% of the car market and is continuing to grow. The brand is also No. 1 in the compact MPV segment with market share of more than 18%. For the launch of the New C5, Business Exclusive versions (70%) account for an exceptionally high proportion of the mix.

Citroën also reported significant growth in the LCV market, increasing registrations by 12% to take market share of 5.5% compared with 4.7% in first-half 2007.

United Kingdom: a commercial policy tailored to the unfavourable exchange rate
In response to the unfavourable pound sterling/euro exchange rate, Citroën implemented a selective commercial policy, targeting the most profitable sales channels and products. In a car/LCV market that contracted by 1.2%, Citroën registrations therefore fell by 9.1%.

In the car market, market share fell from 4.1% to 3.7% in first-half 2008. The C4 Picasso was the most popular vehicle in the range in the first half of the year, with almost 13,000 units sold. The New C5, Saloon and Tourer versions, and the New Berlingo, took more than 4,000 orders following their second-quarter roll-outs.
In the LCV market, Citroën grew sales by 2.1%, taking its market share to 7.3%. Jumper and Jumpy increased sales by 11% and 14% respectively on first-half 2007.

Germany: Citroën maintains market share in a market that expanded slightly; strong growth in LCV market

In a car/LCV market that grew by 3.9% on first-half 2007, Citroën increased registrations by 3.4%.

In a car market that expanded by 3.6%, Citroën maintained its market share. This result can be attributed to the performance of the C1 (+20%) and C3 (+14%), the ramp-up of the C4 and Grand C4 Picasso (+13%) and the Marque's sales offensive in the combi market with the Jumper and Jumpy (+83%).

In an LCV market that expanded by 9.2% in the first half of the year, Citroën registrations grew by 10.1% even before the impact of the New Berlingo. The brand’s market share totalled 5.8%.

Belux: Citroën posts steady market share (10%) in a car/LCV market that grew by 6%
The Marque is No. 1 in the M1 and compact MPV segments. Citroën has 31% of the leisure activity vehicle segment, with the promising debuts of the New Berlingo and Nemo. The New C5 took more than 3,600 orders in the space of a few weeks. Citroën is number one in the LCV market with market share of 16% (an increase of 2 points).

Netherlands: Citroën posts a 7.8% increase in car/LCV registrations in a market that grew by 3.5% Citroën's improved results in the car market can be attributed primarily to the success of the C1 and the No. 1 place of the C4 Picasso family. The C5 had taken more than 2,000 orders at end-June.

In the LCV market, brand market share rose from 4.7% to 5.4%, following the launch of the Nemo, and the upturn in Jumpy registrations.

Portugal: Citroën reports a fall in market share (7.7%) in a car/LCV market that contracted by 3.8%

Against a backdrop of major changes to the tax system, Citroën car sales fell by around 4.1%. The Marque remains No. 1 in the compact MPV segment. The New C5 received a warm welcome and claimed 6% of its segment from May. In an LCV market that fell by 29.2%, Citroën grew market share by 1.2 points to 10.9%.

Scandinavia: Citroën posts steady market share in a car/LCV market that fell by 6.8%
In Denmark, Citroën car registrations surged by 21%, allowing it to maintain stable market share (4.1%) across the Scandinavian market as a whole. In the LCV market, Citroën had market share of 7.5% in first-half 2008, compared with 6.4% in 2007.

2. CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: CITROËN BOOSTS SALES (11.6%) AND MARKET SHARE

In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where the car/LCV market expanded by 10.2%, Citroën grew sales by 11.6%, slightly increasing its market share to 5.6%.
Poland: the car/LCV market expanded by 14.1%. Citroën grew registrations by 19.7% to take market share of 5.4%. The brand is now No. 4 in the LCV market, with market share of 9%.

Czech Republic: the car/LCV market expanded by 9.7% and Citroën boosted registrations by 14.2%. This took the Marque's share of the market to a historic high of 5.6%, placing it in fifth position on the Czech market.

Croatia: the car/LCV market expanded by 11.9% and Citroën boosted registrations by 17.4%. In the car market, the brand increased its market share from 5.2% to 6.2%. In the LCV market, Citroën had market share of 15.9% in first-half 2008, compared with 15% in 2007.

3. MERCOSUR: CITROËN BOOSTS SALES (+72%) AND MARKET SHARE

In a market that continued to grow steadily (+26.6%), Citroën grew sales by 72% in first-half 2008.

Brazil: Citroën registrations surge by over 80% for a 0.8% increase in market share
With more than 34,300 registrations at end-June, an increase of 80.3% over 2007, Citroën had market share of 2.6% in first-half 2008, compared with 1.8% in 2007.
These good results can be attributed primarily to:
- the success of the C3 (flex fuel version), which accounts for 51% of sales,
- the steady performance of the Xsara Picasso, leader in its segment,
- the C4 Pallas, which sold more than 10,000 units in six months and which is set to gain a flex fuel powertrain in the second half of the year

We should also note the warm welcome received by the Grand C4 Picasso on its launch in April. The Marque opened its 100th sales outlet in Brazil in June.

Argentina: Citroën increases market share by 0.5 points in first-half 2008.
In a market that grew by 13.2%, Citroën increased sales by 29.4% on 2007, with 13,800 registrations for market share of 4.3%, compared with 3.8% last year.
These good results can be attributed primarily to the C4 Sedan, which has sold almost 5,400 units since the beginning of the year, as well as steady sales of the Berlingo (car and van) and the Xsara Picasso. Citroën expanded its range in May with the launch of the Grand C4 Picasso.

4. CHINA: PRODUCT OFFENSIVE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SALES NETWORK

In China, in a market that grew by 13.7% in first-half 2008, Citroën reported a 5.3% fall in registrations.

Trends in May and June point to an upturn in Citroën sales and market share, on the back of several concurrent, in particular:
- the successful launch of C-Elysée (more than 9,000 units sold) and the 2008 version of C Triomphe;
- the continued development of the sales network, with 229 sales points already operational and a further 55 currently being set up in 193 cities at end-June.

Reflecting plans to launch two new models per year between 2008 and 2010, Citroën recently presented "C-Quatre", scheduled for launch in September. With this new saloon, Citroën will increase its presence in the M1 segment, which makes up the core of the Chinese market.

Citroën is setting up its sales-marketing department and a new styling office in Shanghai, China's main automotive market.

5. RESULTS ON AN UPWARD TREND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD

With almost 160,000 vehicles delivered in first-half 2008, Citroën car/LCV sales elsewhere in the world rose by 17.4% on first-half 2007.

In Russia, the subsidiary delivered 5,000 vehicles. Citroën is poised to speed up the pace of development with a new import structure, a broader product offering with the recent roll-outs of the C Crosser and New C5 and the active deployment of its network.
In the Mediterranean Basin, Citroën delivered almost 13,700 vehicles in the first six months of the year, an increase of 7% on the previous year. The Berlingo car/van accounted for 38% of deliveries, while the C4 Picasso family, launched in 2007, already makes up 7% of total volumes for this region.

In Turkey, in a market that grew by 13.5%, Citroën increased its market share to 2.6% on the back of the C4 Picasso and the LCV range (success for Nemo and strong increases for the Jumper). Launched in April, the New C5 is notching up 200 sales per month.

Source: Citroën

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