EVwire brief: Citroën is bringing back one of its most iconic cars, with the French automaker unveiling the all-electric 2CV Concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The concept previews a production model that Citroën plans to unveil within the next two years. The company’s target is a starting price of around €15,000 (about $17,400) for the electric 2CV.
The production version of the electrified 2CV will be built in Europe and is set to join Citroën’s lineup by 2028, slotting between the Ami and the C3. It will also comply with the upcoming European E-Car regulations. The original 2CV debuted at the Paris Motor Show back in 1948, and more than five million units were built before production ended in 1990.
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Citroën CEO Xavier Chardon said the goal was to capture what made the 2 CV special rather than build a copy of it:
"Reinventing the 2 CV isn't about replicating a car from the past; it's about reinventing what made it unique: its simplicity, its accessibility and the freedom it offered. With the 2 CV Concept, we're bringing that spirit into today's world to make electric mobility simpler, more human and more desirable. The world has changed. But the idea remains the same: to make life more beautiful with Citroën."
Citroën kept the 2 CV Concept small. The concept measures 3.76 meters (12.3 feet) long, making it shorter than the original 2 CV. Citroën is also targeting a weight of around one tonne (about 2,205 lbs). This means that the production car can get away with a smaller, cheaper battery while still offering enough range for everyday driving.
The 2 CV Concept’s design keeps the original's unmistakable silhouette, with round headlamps set apart from the body, a ribbed bonnet inspired by the 2 CV's TPV prototype, a curved roofline and 18-inch steel wheels wrapped in Michelin tires. Around the back, a digital number plate cycles through the nicknames the 2 CV picked up in different countries.
Inside, Citroën ditched the traditional dashboard for a cylinder that holds a single-spoke steering wheel, a single control stalk, a push-type gear selector and an 8-inch square touchscreen. The concept also gets a manually rolled fabric sunroof, a removable front bench seat for picnics and a detachable "Radioën" radio that doubles as a portable speaker.
Citroën hid plenty of nods to the original as well. The horn and start-up sounds are taken from the 2 CV, the pedals feature a tortoise for the brake and a hare for the accelerator, and the door pockets are designed to hold eggs as a tribute to the original car's specifications.
EVwire's Jaan shared a closer look at the 2 CV Concept from the Paris Motor Show floor, noting that some European legacy brands are making the right moves in EVs by bringing back old icons as purpose-built EVs.
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Context:
Citroën's parent company Stellantis has been working through its own EV supply challenges in France. Earlier this month, Stellantis said it would idle its Sochaux and Rennes plants in late October due to a shortage of long-range EV batteries from its ACC battery joint venture. The Rennes plant builds the Citroën C5 Aircross.
Stellantis has also been pushing smaller, more affordable EVs across its brands. In July, Fiat opened US orders for the Topolino, an all-electric quadricycle with a starting price of $13,995.
Source: Citroën press release, Jaan Juurikas on X
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