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UROPEAN car giant Citroen is making a comeback in the UAE after five-year absence from the market.
The French car firm had been in a legal dispute with is former dealership in the emirates.
But the company has now appointed Al Rostamani Group as its new sole distributor and opened its first showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road, with three more in the pipeline for 2015 across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
Michel Miraillet, France’s ambassador in the UAE, said Citroen’s renewed presence is a huge boost for trade relations between the two countries.
He said: “After five years of absence following a long journey and some legal struggles, the Citroen brand is making a comeback.
“I’m overjoyed for many reasons. First and foremost because it is a fine example of the impartiality of judiciary system in the UAE regarding the advocacy of a foreign company.
“Second, because this marks the introduction of a new French company in the UAE in a very dynamic and competitive industry.”
Miraillet added that trade between the UAE and France crossed four billion Euros last year.
“The UAE represents the fourth most important trade market for France,” he said. “Cars are a limited thing compared to other sectors we trade in – food, luxury goods and oil and gas equipment. For us, the UAE is not just an important market but also a growing market.
“There are three French families settling in Dubai per day because they see it as an attractive city.”
Meanwhile, Philippe Geze, director of MENA Citroen, said the firm has tailored its models for international markets.
He explained: “In 2013, despite a difficult economic situation in Europe, Citroen sold 1.3 million cars, with 40 per cent of the sale outside Europe. The UAE has been identified as a strategic and major market for future sales.”
Setrak Mechedjian, general manager at Citroen, added: “Dubai is a big cake and we are trying to take a part of it.”
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