CITROEN

Citroën unveils new electric 2CV in Paris with a "killer price"

The Citroën 2CV—one of the world's most iconic vehicles and certainly one of the simplest and most affordable, produced between 1948 and 1990 (with the final unit rolling off the brand's assembly line in Mangualde)—is set to return to the market. Its public unveiling will take place on the eve of the Paris Motor Show, which opens on October 12.

As previously promised by the brand's CEO, Xavier Chardon, the new 2CV will be electric and affordable, positioning itself as a true "people's car." Within the French manufacturer's battery-powered lineup, it will slot in between the small Ami quadricycle—starting at €8,290—and the ë-C3 hatchback, which requires an investment of just €18,240 for the version with a 205 km range; Chardon has projected a price of €15,000 for the new 2CV.

While images of the full model have not yet been released, the automaker has shared a few detail shots as a teaser to whet the appetite. One photo reveals the shape of the headlights, as well as parts of the hood and fender, indicating that—much like the 1948 2CV—the headlights remain separate from the main bodywork; while not perfectly round, they are easily recognizable as a nod to the model from 78 years ago. The same applies to the hood and fender: the former appears raised and the latter distinct from the body, paying homage to the original 2CV while adopting a more modern, stylized look.

Chardon emphasizes that the new 2CV will help democratize electric mobility, offering seating for four or five and some luggage space. To power it, Citroën will draw from Stellantis's parts bin, so it would come as no surprise if it adopts a battery of around 30 kWh to ensure a range of just over 200 km.

The new electric 2CV—which will debut in Paris as a prototype—is not expected to reach customers until 2028 and is slated for production in Pomigliano, Italy, according to information released by Stellantis CEO António Filosa. This new electric model from Citroën will be part of the Stellantis E-Car program and will also align with the European Union's "Small and Affordable E-Car" initiative, which aims to encourage the European production of compact, low-cost electric vehicles; the announced price of €15,000 aligns with the vision championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when the E-Car project was unveiled.

Citroën has revealed the first visual details of the new 2CV, set to be a highlight of the 2026 Paris Motor Show. This electric reinterpretation of one of the brand's most iconic cars will be unveiled on Sunday, October 11, just before the event opens to the public. The production version is expected to arrive in 2028.

Following the success of compact electric models like the Citroën ë-C3, the French brand may bet on a modern reinterpretation of the classic "2CV," bringing back a simple, economical car designed for today's urban needs.

An umbrella on wheels...Based on the information that has emerged, this comeback is set to revive far more than just the original model's lines. The ambition is to preserve the philosophy that made the 2CV so significant in the history of European mobility: offering families a practical, affordable, and reliable car. A sort of "umbrella" on wheels—now fully electric.

In fact, this intention had already been voiced by Xavier Chardon, Citroën’s executive director. As we reported in May, he aims to create a car that serves the same purpose the 2CV did in the last century. While the revival of the name and the aesthetic nods to the original continue to spark curiosity, the mission is clear: simple, accessible mobility.

Citroën identifies this need in a market where the cheapest new cars have all but vanished. This future city car is expected to be positioned below the ë-C3, filling a gap the brand left open when the C1 was discontinued.

According to various industry reports, this new model is expected to position itself as a low-cost option with a starting price below €15,000, making it a highly attractive proposition for those seeking an affordable car at a time when prices keep rising.

Inspired by the classic lines of the original, the future 2CV is expected to combine:

Retro design with modern technology

Low-cost electric or hybrid powertrain

A focus on simplicity and efficiency

A highly competitive price for the European market

Citroën's strategy is to offer practical, economical mobility while tapping into the nostalgia surrounding one of its most iconic models.

The original model, launched in 1948, became a symbol of accessibility and simplicity. Now, in an era dominated by electrification and the demand for economical city cars, the return of the 2CV could prove to be a winning move.

Images released by the manufacturer make it clear that, this time, the connection to the original 2CV goes beyond the mere concept of simplicity. There are several explicit visual references to the model produced between 1948 and 1990.

The headlights remain prominently positioned atop the fenders, just like on the classic model, though they feature a modernized shape with a flattened top section. The hood incorporates several fine creases to add structural rigidity—a nod to 2CV models built prior to 1960. An air vent sits between the hood and the fenders, a feature inspired by models from 1961 onwards.

Other images reveal the distinctive design of the fully enclosed rear pillar (seen on models up to 1965), complete with a turn signal indicator. The concept car also features the classic rotating door handles that remained a fixture of the original Citroën until its retirement in 1990. Even the wheels follow the old "Deuche" recipe: they have a simple appearance resembling solid steel rims—though now with four lug nuts instead of three. The Michelin tires feature a retro-style logo, referencing the French tire manufacturer's historic role in the development of the original 2CV.

One of the images released by Citroën also shows an egg carton—and this is no coincidence. It is a direct reference to one of the most famous anecdotes regarding the development of the 2CV. The original project began before World War II under the acronym TPV, standing for *Toute Petite Voiture* ("very small car"). Among the requirements was the creation of a simple, inexpensive car suited to the rural France of that era. Its suspension had to be comfortable enough to drive across a field carrying a basket of eggs without breaking them.

More than eight decades later, Citroën aims to revive that philosophy. According to Xavier Chardon, the brand's CEO, the new 2CV intends to restore purchasing power to European consumers and serve as an affordable car adapted to modern needs.

This also helps explain why the new 2CV won't simply be a "niche" retro vehicle. The model is expected to sit at the entry level of Citroën’s lineup, positioned above the tiny Ami—classified in Europe as a quadricycle—and below the C3. The concept is to offer a car essential for daily commuting, cutting down on weight, complexity, and, above all, price.

The new 2CV is part of Stellantis’s "E-Car" program, established as part of a European initiative for a new category of small, simple, and affordable electric cars. The goal is to reduce some of the regulatory complexity that has made producing low-cost city cars in Europe increasingly difficult.

Stellantis is targeting a starting price of under 15,000 euros, even before factoring in potential government incentives.

For now, Citroën has not yet released details regarding power output, battery capacity, or range. The priority is to offer enough capability for daily use rather than chasing high performance figures or long ranges on a single charge. Chardon has summarized the project's philosophy by arguing that the future of mobility relies not on the most complex cars, but on the simplest and most intuitive ones.

Production of Stellantis’s E-Cars is scheduled to begin in 2028 at the Pomigliano d'Arco plant near Naples, Italy. In addition to the 2CV, the group is preparing a small electric Fiat as part of the same program—a successor to the current Pandina. Thus, the "Deuche" will return with a mission similar to the one it had in the post-war era: getting more people into a car. The difference is that, this time, there will be no characteristic noise from the little air-cooled, two-cylinder boxer engine.

Autonews