Citroen hopes new C5 X large sedan to help to restore sales

French automaker Citroen marked its comeback in the esteemed large sedan market on Monday with the introduction of its flagship C5 X, hoping the model will inspire its European fortunes to recover from the coronavirus crisis and reverse decreasing sales in China.

Citroen, part of the Stellantis group created previously this year with the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler, said on Monday it will manufacture the C5 X in the city of Chengdu in China.

The model marks the re-introduction of Citroen into the large sedan segment, dominated by the German automaker, and Citroen hopes it will help end six years of decreasing sales in China.

The C5 X – the first new vehicle to be introduced since Stellantis was formed in January – will go on sale in the second half of the year in China and European countries. It will come in both petrol and plug-in hybrid versions.

Citroen has posted declines in sales for six straight years. Last year it sold 717,190 vehicles, which was much below a target of 1.6 million set for 2021.