Citroën Chile
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Citroën Chilena S.A. |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Headquarters | Arica , Chile |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Parent | Citroën |
Citroën Chile S.A.C., previously known as Citroën Chilena S.A, serves as the Chilean branch of the French carmaker Citroën, specializing in the marketing and distribution of Citroën automobiles within Chile. The company maintained local vehicle manufacturing operations until 1982.
History
Established in 1955, Citroën Chilena commenced automobile assembly in 1963 at its facility located in Arica. The enterprise was connected to Sociedad Importadora e Industrial J. Lhorente y Cia. Ltda., with José Lhorente overseeing management for a time. It was also recognized under the name Automotriz Arica S.A.
During the early 1970s, under the administration of President Salvador Allende, the Chilean government reorganized the automotive sector, forming the Corfo-Citroën partnership to focus on producing compact cars, while Renault and Fiat concentrated on mid-sized models, and Peugeot specialized in larger vehicles.
The company was renamed Corfo-Citroën in 1972 and later became Citroën Chile S.A.C. in 1980. Production within Chile ended in 1982, a year when Citroën accounted for approximately 4.5% of national vehicle manufacturing (457 units out of 10,255). Since that time, Citroën Chile has functioned exclusively as an importer and distributor.