Citroen mulls sub-£15k EV to replace C1 city car

“We are legitimate as the Citroen brand to enter this segment, providing that the European Union is giving some space in terms of future regulations - we don't know yet. Why are we legitimate? Because this is part of our DNA, and you don't have to go back so far in history.”

Chardon referenced the historical success of previous ‘A-segment’ Citroën models, a lineage that dates right back to the 2CV and includes highly popular superminis like the Saxo and more recently the C1.

The C1 was taken off sale in 2020, at the same time as the closely related Peugeot 108, amid a mass exodus of mainstream car makers from the A-segment, with increasing legislation and production costs conspiring to strangle already razor-thin margins.

Since then, the C3 has been Citroën’s smallest full-sized car, but at 4015mm long and 1577mm tall is substantially larger than the C1 - and Chardon says the E-car rules could provide the framework to fill that gap in Citroën’s line-up again.

“The C1 was quite a successful car. It was 3.4 metres, so quite compact, but up to five seats. Of course, it was not the car that you would use from to commute from London to Nice, but it was a car that you could take outside of the city.

“You had five doors, you had an engine where you could go on highways (not as the primary use but giving the flexibility) and we believe that this is important that we find again this logic at a price point that is - at least in Europe- below €15,000.”

He said the E-car rules are “not the only way” such a model could be brought to fruition”, but added: “It's the most likely way to find an equation that makes this project affordable for customers - and also economically viable for us.”

Chardon's comments come shortly after his counterpart at sibling brand Peugeot, Alain Favey, told Autocar that his firm, too, was mulling the prospect of a new entry-level EV supermini in the vein of the 108.

Just as the C1 and 108 were twinned in their first two generations, so too would their successors be likely to be heavily related, but neither Favey nor Chardon gave any hint as to how advanced the projects are.

Other brands including Dacia and BYD have also indicated they could launch new entry models in Europe in a more hospitable regulatory environment.

Crucially, any new classification for small cars in Europe would need to ease the sort of safety and technical regulation that has priced such models almost out of existence, because manufacturers need to be able to sell them at a profit - which means they must cost less to build, Chardon said.

“And for this you need to change a couple of parameters, especially if you want this car to be fully electrified - having a car at €15,000 electrified without any subsidies is not a walk in the park. And if every time the European Union is asking us for more regulations, this is not supporting us in moving in this direction.”

Chardon’s comments clarify Citroën’s position on a spiritual successor to its best-known car, which he said would inspire the conception of any future entry model, but not necessarily the look - contrary to recent suggestions that the iconic 1950s ‘people’s car’ could be revived in the same manner as the Fiat 500 and Renault 5.

Asked if the E-car project and mooted ‘reborn’ 2CV were one and the same, Chardon explained: “I wouldn't call it the 2CV project, but I would call it more ‘the E-car’. The 2CV is, for me, an inspiring model. What is interesting is to understand why the 2CV – which was stopped many, many years ago – is still an iconic car, and what you can learn from it.

“Originally, it was from the time where Citroën was owned by Michelin. It was a very interesting brief: Michelin had said ‘we need to sell more tires, so we need to put more cars on the on the street’. This was the brief before World War Two, and then after World War Two, it became: ‘we need to offer a car that offers individual mobility to the masses in a period where price was absolutely important.”

Chardon noted parallels between consumer demands of the mid-20th century – which ultimately birthed a whole generation of people’s cars including the VW Beetle, Mini, Fiat 500, Morris Minor and Citroën’s own 2CV – and today’s market environment.