Cactus prompts Citroen's swing to SUV

Citroen plans to launch a new SUV as part of a restructure of its range. "The SUV segment is growing across each region," said chief executive Linda Jackson. "This type of car is something that you will see from us in the next couple of years."

Jackson also said that the quirky Cactus (which has just been launched in New Zealand) illustrates the "spirit" that will be seen in the company's future models, and that Citroen would reduce the number of models it offers and concentrate on potential big sellers such as the SUV.

"We currently have 14 silhouettes when you look across all the markets we compete in," said Jackson. "We want to reduce that to seven silhouettes, with real volume and profit opportunity within each."

Citroen's global sales grew by 4 per cent last year and it increased its market share in Britain, France, Spain and Germany.

In order to build on that success, it plans to offer cars with "useful technology that creates a feel-good factor", Jackson said. "We're looking at ways to improve life for customers, from the product, to the flexibility in how you pay for it, to the dealer experience."