)
)
Citroën electric 2CV: everything we know about the return of the icon
Jun 29, 2026
)
Citroën electric 2CV: everything we know about the return of the icon
Thirty-eight years after production ended, Citroën is bringing back one of the most iconic names in French motoring. The 2CV is returning, and it will be 100% electric. The brand made it official on 21 May 2026, with a bold promise: a price below €15,000, which would make it one of the most affordable electric cars in Europe. For now, it is mainly an announcement. The first official preview is expected at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, and sales won't begin before 2028. Here is what is confirmed, and what remains unclear.
The electric 2CV is official: what Citroën has announced
Citroën confirmed the return of the 2CV on 21 May 2026, as part of Stellantis's FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan. Three things are confirmed: the car will be 100% electric, it will target a price below €15,000, and it will be produced from 2028 at the Italian plant in Pomigliano d'Arco. A presentation model will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026. Everything else, including the final design, will wait until then.
)
The 2CV, a popular legend
To understand what is at stake, it helps to remember what the 2CV represented. Launched in 1948 under the name TPV (Toute Petite Voiture, or Very Small Car), it had a simple mission: to put post-war rural France on wheels at minimal cost. Nicknamed the "Deudeuche", it was famously required to cross a ploughed field without breaking the eggs placed on the seat. Rugged, lightweight, almost indestructible and cheap, it was produced until 1990, with more than five million units built. More than a car, it became a symbol of freedom and popular ingenuity. Few vehicles are more iconic in French automotive history. It is this legacy, and the very high bar that comes with it, that Citroën has chosen to revive.
A tribute to the spirit, not a pastiche
This is where Citroën sets itself apart. The brand promises not to fall into easy nostalgia: no copy-paste of the 1948 silhouette, no fake corrugated metal. The idea is to recapture the philosophy of the original 2CV, conceived as a minimalist, lightweight, affordable car for everyone. This approach, inherited from the Oli concept, can be summed up in a phrase: do more with less. It stands in contrast to Renault, which is banking on the openly retro design of its R5 and R4. Where Renault plays the emotional card, Citroën puts function before nostalgia.
Price, platform and production: what we know
The pricing ambition is clear: come in under €15,000, a level no new electric car reaches today in Europe. To achieve this, the 2CV is expected to use a new platform called E-Car, combining electric technology from Leapmotor, Stellantis's Chinese partner, with fully European production. The battery is expected to be lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which is less expensive and well suited to urban use. These details, reported by specialist media, have yet to be officially confirmed. The industrial challenge is real: to hit this price, Citroën will need to strip back everything non-essential, including equipment, without compromising safety or driving feel. That is exactly the promise, and the risk, of the project.
Electric 2CV, Renault 5, ë-C3: the price challenge
If Citroën hits its target, the 2CV would become the most affordable electric car on the market, undercutting the Renault 5 E-Tech and even the Citroën ë-C3, already one of the most accessible electric cars available. The bet is a bold one: building a profitable European electric car for under €15,000, against Chinese competition, is an industrial feat. That is precisely what makes this project worth watching. If it succeeds, it could reshape the entry-level electric market in Europe and push competitors, French and Chinese alike, to lower their prices. That would benefit buyers most of all.
Why is Citroën relaunching the 2CV now?
The timing is no accident. The affordable electric market is taking shape, and brands are looking for strong names to stake their claim. Renault showed the way with its R5 E-Tech, a commercial success that proved public appetite for reinvented icons. Citroën, for its part, needs a flagship product to drive its electric volumes higher. Bringing back the 2CV means instant recognition and a story that needs no explanation. The risk is disappointing enormous expectations. The brand knows this, and insists on staying true to the spirit rather than copying the look, to avoid accusations of betrayal. But turning a myth into an affordable electric best-seller is something nobody has yet pulled off perfectly.
What still needs to be confirmed
Quite a lot, in fact. Citroën has not communicated the range, power output, battery capacity, final design or exact price. All of this is expected at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 2026. At this stage, it is better to think of the electric 2CV as a strong intention rather than a finished product. The price promises, in particular, will need to survive industrial reality between now and 2028. Other unknowns remain: will the 2CV be a strict city car or a slightly more versatile format? Will there be variants, like the van that became part of the original's legend? Citroën is keeping the mystery alive.
Should you get excited already?
Let's be measured. An announcement, however spectacular, is not a car. Between today's promise and the 2028 launch, much can change: the target price, the technical specification, even the timeline. Recent history is full of compelling projects announced with fanfare and then scaled back. The intent is coherent, and Stellantis's momentum in affordable electric vehicles is real. Our advice: follow the story with interest, put the Paris Motor Show in your diary, but don't hold off on buying a car today for something that won't arrive for at least two years. At that price and with that name, if Citroën delivers, the 2CV could yet become one of the most sought-after electric cars of the late 2020s.
How will such an affordable city car charge?
A small urban electric car like the future 2CV will mostly be charged at home: a slow overnight charge is plenty for daily commutes. For longer trips, or for drivers without a home socket, the public network takes over. At Electra fast charging stations, charging starts automatically with Autocharge, no badge or app required, and a small battery fills up in just a few minutes. In other words, even without a garage or home charger, an electric 2CV would be perfectly usable day to day and at weekends. Two subscriptions can help reduce the cost:
Electra+ Essential: €1.99/month with no commitment, €0.10/kWh discount on every charge on the Electra network.
Electra+ Smart: €4.99/month with no commitment, €0.20/kWh discount on every charge on the Electra network.
Find Electra fast charging stations on the map, and full details of the plans on the Electra+ subscription page.
Frequently asked questions about the Citroën electric 2CV
Is the new Citroën 2CV electric?
Yes. Citroën has confirmed that the new 2CV will be 100% electric. It is the only powertrain announced.
What will the electric 2CV cost?
Citroën is targeting under €15,000. The final price will be announced later, most likely around the Paris Motor Show reveal.
When will the new 2CV be released?
Production will start in 2028, at the Italian plant in Pomigliano d'Arco. An official preview is expected as early as October 2026.
Will the electric 2CV have a retro look?
Citroën says it is drawing inspiration from the spirit of the 2CV, simplicity and accessibility, rather than copying its design. The final style will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show.
What range will the electric 2CV have?
Unknown at this stage: Citroën has not released any technical data. The battery is expected to be LFP type, suited to urban use.
What to remember
The return of the 2CV is a beautiful promise, and a real gamble. Citroën wants to prove that a European electric car can stay under €15,000, by prioritising simplicity over nostalgia. On paper, the idea is compelling and stays true to the original spirit. What remains is to turn the announcement into a car, which won't happen before 2028. Until then, the unmissable appointment is the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, where the 2CV should finally take shape. Whatever happens, seeing this name return on an affordable electric car says a great deal about the direction the market is heading.
To find Electra stations near you, download the app on the App Store or Google Play. And to reduce the cost of every charge, the Electra+ Smart subscription pays for itself quickly, even on a small city car.
Written by Nicolas, Electra mobility expert
The only charging app you will need
4.5/5
on the stores