Thirty-six years it slept. Now the Citroen 2CV wakes up.
Production starts in 2028 but the real news is sooner. A preview concept drops at the 2026Paris Motor Show in October. You can expect shadows first. Then details.
Stellantis announced this alongside a massive turnaround plan. They’re launching sixty new models and fifty updates by 2030 it is a huge bet. The 2CV is just one piece.
“True innovation is not about adding more”
That is the promise. The car looks familiar. Tall roof. Snail-like body. Big round eyes. It retains the old soul. Citroen calls it “lightweight” which usually means plastic and empty space in a good way.
Xavier Chardon the CEO had some words. He said it will be 100% electric. Made in Europe. And crucially it costs less than €15000 (roughly A$24500). That is cheaper than the current entry-level e-C3 which sits around €19090.
Will it hit Australia? Probably not. Citroen left in 2024. Too bad for Down Under fans.
There is a catch with the price. The €15000 target likely excludes government rebates. France gives €6100. Germany gives €3000. It’s unclear if this car meets the new EU “E-car” regulations too. We might find out later. Or maybe not.
Why so cheap? Fiat is launching a new Panda EV right around the same time same sub-€15000 price tag. They are building both cars in Naples. Sharing parts. Sharing electrical guts. Sharing assembly lines. Economies of scale save lives and budgets.
The original 2CV has history. Michelin saved Citroen in the 1930S then war stopped the work. When it finally sold in 1949 it had a tiny 375cc engine putting out just 6.6kW. It had radial tires which was wild then. Fabric roof that folded up. Suspension for mud holes. Front-wheel drive was still rare.
It spawned the Dyane and the Acadienne. The Mehari too. Like the Beetle it refused to die. Nine-point-two million were built. Production ended in 1990. A long life.
Now it’s an electric tin box. Cheap again. Made for real people maybe.
