Citroen e-C3 EV unveiling date

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【Summary】Citroen will unveil its new e-C3 electric car on October 17th. The car is expected to have a starting price of under 25,000 euros and will offer more than 300km of range. It will be built on Stellantis' cost-focused Smart Platform and will be positioned as a competitor to Chinese EV brands entering the European market. Citroen aims to increase its market share in Europe and expand its sales globally. Sales of the e-C3 are expected to begin in early 2024.

FutureCar Staff Oct 15, 2023 6:23 AM PT

Citroen is set to release the new e-C3, positioning it as one of the UK's most affordable electric cars. The CEO, Thierry Koskas, believes that the e-C3 offers three main attributes that will set it apart from other cars on the market - it is made in Europe, has all the features buyers expect, and is priced under 25,000 euros. This is considered a breakthrough in the industry.

The e-C3 is scheduled to launch at the beginning of 2024. It will utilize a cost-focused platform and a 'fair deal' pricing structure that aims to eliminate haggling. Koskas stated that the starting price should be under 25,000 euros, making it significantly cheaper than competitors like Vauxhall's Corsa Electric.

Citroen recently shared a teaser video of the electric supermini, urging viewers to "forget everything you know about electric cars." The video revealed a bold head- and tail-light design reminiscent of the Citroen Oli concept.

The e-C3 will have a range of over 300km (186 miles) and will be approximately four meters in length, similar to the existing C3 model. It will be based on Stellantis's 'Smart Platform,' which is a cost-focused evolution of existing architectures used in India and South America. Koskas emphasized that the Smart Platform optimization contributes to the competitive pricing.

The battery capacity and performance details have not been disclosed yet. However, 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 introducing cheaper EVs in Europe. The brand aims to compete by showcasing its history, large sales network, and wide reach. Citroen has ambitious sales targets, including a five percent share of the European market and 30 percent of global sales outside of Europe.

The sales approach for the e-C3 will involve fair pricing with some room for negotiation and incentives. The goal is to be transparent and provide customers with a price that is close to the actual price paid.

The e-C3 will be unveiled on October 17, 2022, with sales expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, a larger SUV model will be introduced as a follow-up to the existing C3 Aircross in the near future.

For those interested in superminis, check out our list of the best options currently available in the UK.