Market for small car segment in Saudi Arabia is starting to grow, with increasing competition among car manufacturers. In recent years, the sale of vehicles with four-cylinder engines has witnessed noticeable improvement. This trend toward quality built-smaller cars and smaller engines with high feature content and loads of character looks bright. Industry leaders forecast an upturn in demand for small cars in Saudi Arabia, which represents only 6-8 percent of the total car market in the Kingdom at present. Though larger cars and multi-utility vehicles (MUVs) are popular owing to dominance of large families and relatively low fuel prices, yet industry analysts said the preference for small cars is dictated by economic considerations. “As there is now a growing number of employed young Saudis getting a pay of SR3,500 a month, then owning a brand new car, despite being small in terms of engine displacement, is the logical thing to do since financing comes in handy.” Moreover, the small car segment gains the backing of the Kingdom's expatriate workers - accounting for around 27 percent of the population, or 6.4 million people (as the latest available data showed), most of whom earn far lower salaries than Saudi nationals - but are now allowed to buy new cars through credit financing with the introduction of salary-backed consumer loans in 2000. “Affordability is the determining factor for the small cars nowadays,” analysts added. Against this promising scenario for small cars, the all-new Citroen C3 Visiodrive 2010 was launched in Saudi Arabia last Monday. With its Zenith windscreen, it is unique. Boosting brightness and visibility, it brings ‘Visiodrive' passengers an all-new motoring experience. The new C3 heralds a new motoring experience with the Zenith windscreen. With its exceptional length of 1,350 mm, this exceptional technological feat increases front passengers' upward field of vision 80° by removing the upper beam for a non-stop panoramic view on the world. In a press conference following the launch, Khaled Bakhashab, general manager of Bakhashab Brothers Holding Company - the exclusive dealer of Citroen in the Kingdom, expressed confidence about the new model of Citroen C3, noting the “satisfaction of clients and consumers due to the high performance of the car.” He said the new Citroen C3 “satisfies the requirements of executive vehicle buyers in terms of quality and reliability by setting new standards in development, design and industrial production.” The new C3 Visiodrive is packed with engineering innovations and stylish design. “It is a perfect balance of aerodynamic exterior styling and useful practicality integrally compatible with active dynamic lifestyle. It sets new standards with a surprisingly spacious cabin and interior comfort for all occupants to relax and enjoy the ride,” Omar M. Bakhashab, deputy general manager of Bakhashab Brothers Holding, noted the innovative features of the all-new C3, saying apart from its distinguished styling and elegant personality, C3's dynamic lines “give it real on-road presence.” It is a car designed for precision driving “offering unparalleled level of driving pleasure and comfort.” He projected that some 300 to 500 units of the all-new C3 - with retail price ranging from SR45,000 for a 1.4 manual transmission engine to SR58,000 for the 1.6VTi automatic transmission engine - would be sold in the second half of this year. Commenting on the price tag, he said the all-new C3 will be a strong seller in that market segment. It's not about delivering the cheapest car, it's about delivering value for money.”
