Citroën has no plans to restrict the sale of petrol cars in order to meet politically set targets for electric vehicles (EVs).
Despite growing pressure from the EU's regulations, the French automaker remains committed to offering petrol-powered cars.
Even if cutting back on petrol car sales could help Citroën meet the EU's electric car sales requirements, which are set to take effect next year, the brand's managing director, Thierry Koskas, told AutoCar at the Paris Motor Show that they won't follow that path.
According to Koskas, it would be "a shame" to limit petrol car sales simply to comply with the EU's emissions regulations.
Instead, Citroën plans to make its electric cars as practical as possible, while also preparing customers for EV ownership.
However, Koskas acknowledged that only 10 percent of Citroën's sales in Europe currently consist of electric cars—far short of the percentage the EU will require from all automakers starting next year.
"Ultimately, we must meet mobility needs while complying with both England's and the EU's CO2 emissions regulations," Koskas said. "So I have to create a natural demand for electric cars."
One way Citroën aims to boost EV sales is with the upcoming ë-C3.
"I truly believe the market is evolving, and we don't want to reach the point where we have to limit the demand for or production of internal combustion engine cars simply because we aren't selling enough electric cars," Koskas added.
