Citroën is readying a mix of smaller electric cars that will be “aggressively priced” to undercut rivals in the ever competitive entry-EV market.
Expected to arrive in the next couple of years, the smaller models will get “kick-ass” designs to attract a wider customer base to the French brand, Citroën design boss Pierre Leclercq told Autocar.
They are likely to share design cues with the Citroën Oli concept and smaller Citroën Ami, like the upcoming Citroën C3 Aircross, Leclercq said, adding they won’t just be smaller versions of bigger cars: “We are trying not to make cars that have the Russian doll effect”.
A price point around £25,000 is likely, given that Leclercq confirmed their pricing would give the brand a “huge advantage” in the segments in which they’ll sit. This would allow them to undercut the popular £26,000 MG 4, £28,195 Fiat 500 Electric and £31,800 Vauxhall Corsa Electric.
“We conceived them to bring them with a really aggressive price target on the market,” he said.
“I think it's going to be huge, huge advantage [over other car makers] for a brand like Citroën. You know, as premium brands look to become more premium, [there are] some people who don’t have that kind of money to buy a car.”
Speaking about the cars themselves, Leclercq added: “We have great products coming out soon that are, I think, really kicking ass in terms of design. It's going to be super-cool. I mean, we're excited to put those things on the road. Prices are going to be so aggressive. We can only be proud of having done it.
“So, I think, we have a big role to play in the car industry in the next couple of years.”
Read on to discover our best small electric car
The electric cars are highly likely to sit on the CMP platform, which already underpins Stellantis cars such as the Corsa and Peugeot e-208.
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I can not wait to see what they come out with. Would love to see the Oli made it is truly a brilliant concept.
Wish Renault were more like this too.
I will certainly consider a Citroen in the future if they get it right.
I can think of at least 4,500 reasons.
Make it cheap, make it efficient, make it look like the Oli, and watch them walk out the showroom.
They said that about the 2CV as well that was only in production for 42 years and 3-8 million was sold perhaps a truly radical design like the Oli could do the same
Yes, I think so. It doesn't have to appeal a little bit to 100% of buyers, it just has to make 20% of people absolutely love it. Great unique design like the Oli can do that.