At the launch of Citroen Basalt X, Stellantis India MD & CEO Shailesh Hazela speaks to today's Business of Business Riddhima Bhatnagar as he outlined how the company is positioning new SUVs to win one of the fastest growing segments in the Indian automotive market. Targeting young people, couples, and families looking for “accessible yet ambitious” vehicles, the Basalt X stands out with its advanced capabilities and powerful localization.
The highlight of the SUV is that Cara, the first in-car AI-based voice assistant introduced in India, is designed to enhance the driving experience for tech-savvy customers. In addition to the admiration of the design, Basalt X features refreshed interiors and conveniences such as push start, passive entry and intelligent control, reflecting Stellarantis' efforts to fuse Indian quality with indigenous innovations.
Hazela emphasized that pricing is carefully matched with costs, supported by localization of over 95%. This approach not only competes with vehicles, but maintains margins while ensuring accessibility. In exports, Basalt X has already been shipped to ASEAN and African markets, with plans to expand to Egypt and other right hand drive countries.
Discussing EVS, he also confirmed that Stellantis' early entry into India's electricity, improving market preparation will result in a more global EV model. Regarding global disruptions such as US tariffs and China's rare earth supply challenges, he emphasized strengthening India's self-sufficiency and engineering depth isolation Stellarantis supply chain.
With Basalt X, Stellantis bets not only as an important market for India, but also as a strategic export hub of global ambitions.
