CITROËNLIFTS SALES FOR THE NINTH YEAR IN SUCCESSION
Citroen has lifted its Australian sales for the ninth year in succession with a 25.2 per cent increase in sales in 2005 over 2004 revealed by VFACTS figures released today (5 January 2006) and the French car maker has committed itself to making it a ten year sales growth record in 2006.
“Last year was a record year for Citroen in Australia,” says Miles Williams, General Manager for Citroen Australia. “With the addition of the award-winning Citroen C4 to the range, Citroen’s Australian range grew to the largest range Citroen has ever offered in its 85 year Australian history. That increase in the range of vehicles offered by Citroen was matched by sales, which grew to the largest number of Citroens ever delivered in 12 months in Australia.”
“But we are not going to rest on our laurels, we want to make it ten record breaking years in a row,” he adds. “We will achieve this with more availability of Citroen C4 – sales were held back in 2005 by restricted supply on some versions – and by adding more versions of the C4, including the advanced diesel variant, the Citroen C4 HDi. We will also launch the world’s safest car, the Citroen C6, in 2006, not to mention models that are still on the secret list!”
Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd took over the distribution of Citroen in 1995, when sales were less than 300 a year and the range consisted of one model. Over the intervening years, Citroen has added new models to the Australia range as they have been launched in Europe and taken the marque into market sectors in which it has never before been represented, despite its considerable success in Europe. These include light vans with the benchmark Citroen Berlingo, small cars with the Citroen C3 and C2, convertibles with the Citroen C3 Pluriel and diesel cars and wagons with the Citroen C5.
At the same time Citroen has significantly boosted its dealer group, including in 2005 all-new dealerships on the north shore in Sydney as well as in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and in Melbourne. Citroen has also confirmed its motorsport credentials in Australia, with wins for the Citroen Xsara in Telstra Rally Australia in 2004 and 2005, first for World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb in 2004 and for his team mate François Duval last year.
To ensure that Citroën customer service fully matches the qualities of its vehicles, Citroën has invested heavily in this area, with staff numbers tripling over the period of time Ateco has distributed the brand, with further appointments due in 2006. Citroën Australia has also invested heavily in advanced service technology and its Proxia service computer and Laser parts system are arguably the most advanced systems of their type in the industry. Proxia, for example, allows full remote operation and servicing of all Citroën’s products over the internet, speeding servicing and reducing costs.
Citroën has not just grown its sales in Australia, either. Citroën Australia delivered 802 cars in Europe during 2005, under the Citroën DriveEurope programme that enables Australian tourists visiting Europe to lease a brand new Citroën from as little as $29 a day, well below rental car rates. Launched by Citroën Australia in 2001, Australia is now the number one country in the programme and such is the growth in the programme that Citroën Australia now employs a team of people working full time on DriveEurope. It is shaping up to be a another bumper year for this programme – just five days into January 2006 and Citroën Australia is already holding three times as many bookings as it did in January 2005!
“The past nine years has been a remarkable period for both for Citroën and for me professionally,” says Miles Williams. “It has been an honour to work with such aprofessional and dedicated team of people here in Australia, both at Ateco and in our dealers, as well as at Citroën in France, all of whom have made this success story possible. The task in 2006 is to once again lift sales and make it a decade of growth in Australia!”
(ends)
For further information:
Citroën Australia Media Web Site:
Miles Williams
/ Tel: (02) 9701 8020General Manager / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0419 800 520
E-Mail:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: (02) 9701 8015Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0407 913 244
E-Mail:
Web site:
CitroënAustralia
Street Address: Heritage Building, Campus Business Park, 350 Parramatta Road, Homebush NSW 2140 Australia. Postal Address: Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd,Locked Bag 260, Silverwater, NSW 1811, Australia
Telephone: 02 9701 8000; Direct Telephone 02 9701 8015 Fax: 02 9701 3555. Mobile +61 0407 913 244
A.B.N. 34 000 486 706
EJR/ejr/620
1/5/2006