Citroen to Launch Stop-Start Systems in China

Stop-start systems are slowly becoming a must-have option for most models out there because they are contributing to the overall cut of fuel consumption and emissions. As a result more and more automakers are struggling to offer such a system across their product lineup, although the price might be slightly increased.

Citroen is already offering stop-start systems on its cars but the company is reportedly planning to offer it in China as well, starting in 2010. At this time, Chery is the only company that equips its cars with such a function, China Car Times reported.

The French manufacturer last month debuted the new C5 in China, a model whose production will be handled by Dongfeng - Citroen. The C5 will be priced between 200,000rmb and 300,000rmb ($29,295 and $43,950) and will be offered with a choice of three engine configurations, namely 2.0-, 2.3- and 3.0-liter V6.

PSA Group is continuously looking into ways to expand its operations in China, in an effort meant to help both Peugeot and Citroen to benefit from the impressive growth in the local market. According to some rumors, PSA is aiming to establish a new factory in the country but alliance officials have always denied every piece of speculation.

"I've not heard about that," Alexis Varnier, spokesman for PSA in China, said in April. "This was something that (former CEO Christian Streiff) may have spoken about, as part of discussions on potential strategy when he took over in 2007, but those were entirely different circumstances than the ones we face today," a different spokesman in Paris added when asked about such a project.