Stellantis India has commenced exports of the Citroën Basalt, with the first shipment flagged off from its Chennai facility to South Africa, marking a new phase in the company’s export strategy.
With this shipment, cumulative exports of Citroën vehicles from India to South Africa have reached 10,000 units, highlighting the growing momentum of its export operations from the country.
The development underscores the success of the Smart Car platform, which has been conceived, developed and industrialised in India by local R&D teams for both domestic and global markets. It also reflects India’s strengthening position within Stellantis’ global product development and manufacturing network.
The inclusion of the Basalt in the export programme is a significant step for the brand. Positioned as India’s first mainstream SUV coupe, the model has been developed with a strong focus on emerging markets and built on a highly localised platform of up to 95%. This allows it to meet both domestic and international requirements while maintaining cost competitiveness.
Mr. Shailesh Hazela, CEO and Managing Director of Stellantis India, said the start of Basalt exports reinforces India’s role as a competitive manufacturing and sourcing hub for the company’s global operations.
Aligned with the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision, Stellantis India’s export growth is expected to support employment, skill development and the broader automotive ecosystem, while strengthening India’s position as a global manufacturing base.
