Citroën India has given the updated ë-C3X a pricing structure that will look familiar to Malaysians watching the Perodua QV-E.
The electric hatchback-crossover is now offered in India with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) pricing. That means the battery cost is separated from the vehicle price, allowing Citroën to show a lower entry figure while the battery is paid for separately.
It is essentially the same move Perodua is using for the QV-E in Malaysia.
Perodua sells the QV-E body separately from the battery under its own Battery as a Service plan, with the battery managed through a fixed monthly lease. However, it has amended the terms of sales last week.
Citroën’s version works differently on the payment side, but the sales logic is nearly identical: reduce the upfront EV price and take some battery anxiety out of the purchase decision.
Under this scheme, the ë-C3X starts from ₹6.89 lakh (about RM30,200), plus a separate battery-linked monthly instalment calculated at ₹2.26 per km (10 sen per km).
The regular ë-C3X range starts from ₹10.49 lakh (RM46,000).
There are conditions. Citroën said the BaaS calculation assumes monthly running of 2,000km. It excludes charging cost, road tax, insurance, tax collected at source and other government charges.
The finance package is also subject to approval by the relevant bank, finance company or non-bank lender, and is for personal use only.
The appeal is the lower number at the showroom. EVs are still difficult to sell when buyers compare them directly with petrol cars on purchase price alone.
By taking the battery out of the upfront transaction, Citroën is trying to make the first step into EV ownership less painful.
Citroën also claims maintenance cost of ₹0.19 per km (about 8 sen per km), giving it another running-cost line against combustion-engined rivals.
The ë-C3X uses a single permanent-magnet synchronous motor producing 57PS and 143Nm. It is paired with a 29.2kWh battery pack, with Citroën claiming up to 320km of driving range on a full charge.
Equipment has been improved too. The ë-C3X gets LED headlamps, split LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, R15 diamond-cut alloy wheels, front and rear skid plates, electric-adjustable and auto-folding mirrors, and new X badging.
Inside, Citroën has added a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, blue-themed dashboard trim and dual-tone leatherette seats on selected variants.
Connected Car 2.0 brings more than 40 remote-access functions. Optional kit includes a JBL audio system and front and rear dashcams with predictive safety functions.
Citroën lists six airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, speed-sensitive auto door locks and a high-speed alert system among the safety equipment.
Bookings for the updated ë-C3X are now open through Citroën dealerships in India and the brand’s official website.
The ë-C3X is an updated version of Citroën’s eC3 BEV, which first went on sale in India in February 2023.
