Citroen e-C3 EV unveiling date

author: FutureCar Staff    

Citroen is set to release the new e-C3, which is being touted as a breakthrough in the market. According to CEO Thierry Koskas, the e-C3 will offer three main attributes that no other car at launch will have: being made in Europe, having all the features that buyers expect, and being priced under 25,000 euros.

The e-C3 is scheduled to be available at the beginning of 2024 and will utilize a cost-focused platform. It will also benefit from a 'fair deal' pricing structure, which aims to reduce haggling. Koskas stated that the starting price should be under 25,000 euros, potentially making it more than £10,000 cheaper than Vauxhall's Corsa Electric and even undercutting some of the petrol-powered Corsa range.

Alongside the announcement, Citroen shared a teaser video that provides a glimpse of the electric supermini. The video showcases a bold head- and tail-light design reminiscent of the Citroen Oli concept.

The new e-C3 will be unveiled on October 17th at noon and is expected to be one of the UK's most affordable electric cars. Koskas revealed that it will have a range of over 300km (186 miles) and will be around four meters in length, similar to the existing C3. The car will be based on Stellantis's 'Smart Platform,' a cost-focused evolution of existing architectures used in India and South America.

The battery capacity and performance details have not been disclosed yet, but Koskas confirmed that the e-C3 will be manufactured at Stellantis's factory in Trnava, Slovakia. It remains uncertain if a combustion-engined version will be offered alongside the electric model.

Citroen is positioning itself as a defense against the growing number of Chinese manufacturers entering the European market with cheaper EVs. Koskas acknowledged the challenge but expressed the brand's determination to compete. Citroen aims to demonstrate its strengths, including a large sales network and over 100 years of history.

The brand has ambitious targets for its sales, aiming for a five percent share of the European market, a quarter more than it achieved in 2022. Additionally, Citroen aims for 30 percent of its global sales to be outside of Europe, including regions like the Middle East, South America, India, Turkey, and Africa.

Citroen's sales approach will not adopt Dacia's fixed-price offering. While there will still be room for incentives, the brand aims for fair pricing and transparency.

The e-C3 is expected to go on sale in the first quarter of 2024, and a larger follow-up to the existing C3 Aircross baby SUV is planned for later next year to address the demand for a bigger car.

Source: Auto Express

FutureCar Staff