New Citroën 2CV (2028): The electric return of the icon under €15,000

The official announcement sent shockwaves of excitement through automotive enthusiasts and industry observers alike. Citroën has confirmed the return of the Citroën 2CV for 2028, marking the rebirth of the legendary model that originally democratized automobile ownership and became a global cultural icon. The car that transformed into a genuine automotive myth is preparing to return in a completely reinvented form, tailored to contemporary technological and environmental requirements. Facing this major announcement, one question immediately arises: what should we expect from this 21st-century deuche? Here are some insights into the background of a major industrial project.

Stellantis' E-Cars strategy: the lever for affordable mobility

The genesis of this resurrection is part of a major industrial roadmap at the European level. The Stellantis Group has unveiled the E-Cars project, an extensive initiative dedicated to designing affordable, locally produced small electric vehicles. Behind the letter "E" of this ambitious program lie four fundamental pillars defined by the manufacturer: European, Emotional, Electric, and Ecological. This high-potential segment aims to directly address the gradual disappearance of accessible internal combustion city cars in Europe, while preserving industrial employment within the group's historical manufacturing plants.

On the regulatory front, the E-Cars project is of paramount importance. It is the very first official project developed under the new regulatory category created by the European Union, called M1E. This specific nomenclature was designed to ease the approval and distribution of light, affordable electric vehicles, which are essential for the energy transition of urban centers. Beyond customer accessibility, these future models are highly strategic for Stellantis regarding corporate CO2 emissions quotas. Indeed, under the CAFE standards (Corporate Average Fuel Economy), vehicles from this program will benefit from a 1.3 multiplier coefficient when calculating the group's global emission averages. This regulatory incentive gives Stellantis a primary advantage in avoiding heavy financial penalties, while entrusting the production of these platforms to the historic Pomigliano plant in Italy.

An icon's return confirmed within the FaSTLAne plan

The integration of this new version into the brand's catalog materialized following announcements related to Stellantis' global strategic plan, "FaSTLAne 2030". Within this rigorous framework, Citroën's management officially confirmed the return of the deuche, a nameplate that embodies the brand's core values of audacity and optimism. To back this announcement, a first official teaser image, intentionally shrouded in darkness, was shared, revealing the general proportions of the silhouette without completely uncovering the full body lines.

On the current product lineup, this future Citroën 2CV will be cleverly positioned to complement the existing offering, fitting precisely between the AMI urban mobility solution and the recent C3 compact hatchback. The commercial ambition looks formidable, with a base price estimated below €15,000. This aggressive pricing strategy will fulfill the brand's historic promise: bringing freedom of movement to the masses. To achieve this, and to comply with future climate regulations, this new generation will make a definitive technological leap, as the future 2CV will be exclusively powered by an electric drivetrain. This configuration will allow the brand to offer an essential vehicle, devoid of costly technological superfluity, while ensuring minimal running costs for daily drivers.

Design and philosophy: what will the 21st-century Deuche look like?

While detailed technical specifications remain confidential, the aesthetic philosophy of the future city car is gradually taking shape through executive statements. The exterior style, though resolutely modern, is expected to adopt a general silhouette that remains faithful to the proportions of the original 2CV. Initial visual clues confirm the presence of evocative styling cues, notably two front light signatures mimicking round headlights and the integration of Citroën's large oval logo taking center stage on an elegant front grille. This reinterpretation work seeks to avoid the pitfall of pure, sterile nostalgia, focusing instead on the initial spirit of the 1948 TPV (Toute Petite Voiture) project: lightness, simplicity, and practicality.

To discover the concrete lines of this vehicle, the manufacturer invites the public to the upcoming Paris Motor Show in October 2026. During this major international event, Citroën will exhibit an unprecedented concept car, previewing very accurately the final production version expected on the roads two years later. This prototype will provide a detailed look at the design directions chosen by the styling teams, but observers already agree that the overall silhouette will feature the iconic curved roofline of its predecessor, enhanced with smooth surfaces and contemporary aerodynamic solutions.

The great return of the Citroën 2CV is now firmly established in industrial development plans, and its commercial launch will be effective by 2028. While the overall exterior lines promise to remain faithful to the unique silhouette of the original deuche, this future iteration will be fundamentally different due to its 100% electric powertrain and a resolutely modern technical design. The digital illustration presented gives a highly promising preview of what this daily vehicle could be. The date is set a few weeks from now in Paris to discover the concept car from every angle and verify if the spirit of democratic innovation dear to Citroën still drives this future icon.