Citroën launches its ë-C3 electric car

(Meudon) The French automobile brand Citroën unveiled the first electric version of its emblematic C3 on Tuesday, marking a strong start in the race for the electric entry-level, with a car costing 23,300 euros ($34,000), which will be followed by a version with reduced autonomy, at 19,990 euros ($29,000).

“This is a real breakthrough in the market: a unique electric car, for less than 25,000 euros, made in Europe,” said Citroën CEO Thierry Koskas, next to an ë-C3. red with a black roof, freshly unveiled on the stage of Hangar Y, in Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine).

This car, with a range of 320 km – “largely sufficient for everyday use” – will be available “at the price of 23,300 euros”, net buyer and “unique in Europe”, praised Mr. Koskas.

And he promises even cheaper “at the beginning of 2025”, with a “more urban version with a 200 km range, which will cost 19,990 euros”. “Offering affordable vehicles has always been in the DNA of Citroën”, today in the fold of the Stellantis group, affirmed the manager.

The price can be further reduced thanks to the ecological bonus, once the government has confirmed that the ë-C3 is among the eligible models in 2024 (currently between 5,000 and 7,000 euros, it must become decreasing depending on income).

By comparison, Tesla’s best seller, the Model 3, today costs 37,990 euros ($55,000), once 5,000 euros of ecological bonus are deducted.

This fourth generation of C3, which will also exist in a thermal version, will be available to order at the beginning of 2024 and marketed at the start of the second quarter.

Made in Slovakia

Much squarer than the models that preceded it, the new C3 – “ bestseller of Citroën” with 5.6 million copies sold since its launch in 2002 – is also taller (1.57 m), giving it the appearance of an SUV. The number of colors will be reduced to five to limit costs.

It will be the first vehicle to integrate the new Citroën design: the new logo, with chevrons enclosed in an oval as at the beginning of the brand, and the “light signature” of the headlights, three bars drawing a C or an inverted C.

The LFP battery, 44 kWh, can be connected to fast charging at 100 kW, to “go from 20 to 80% capacity in just 26 minutes”, specifies the company. The same recharge from a standard outlet will take between 2 hours 50 minutes and 4 hours 10 minutes.

“The new ë-C3 is the first fully electric versatile city car offered by a European manufacturer at this price level and for such benefits,” boasts Citroën. It will be manufactured in the “Stellantis Trnava factory in Slovakia”.

Currently, no model is sold in France under 30,000 euros, except the Dacia Spring, the cheapest electric car on the market, but which is made in China and offers basic comfort.

Driven by fierce Asian competition, European manufacturers are engaged in a race for entry-level electric vehicles. Many brands – Opel, Renault, VW with its future ID.2 – have announced vehicles priced around 25,000 euros for the end of 2024 or 2025.

But the promise is difficult to keep. For its future Renault 5 city car, Renault management is now talking about a price rather “below 30,000 euros”, however arguing that it will be manufactured in France.

Strategic challenge

“The electric car below 25,000 euros is finally arriving,” welcomed Marie Chéron, of the environmental association Transport & Environment, to AFP. “Good news” too, the car will be rented at 99 euros/month, underlined the expert, and “should contribute to the start of social leasing announced by the government”.

“Nevertheless, the ë-C3 is a new example of “SUV-ification”” of electric, lamented his colleague Léo Larrivière, emphasizing that “it’s less energy efficient and more material consumed”.

Winning the race for the entry-level electric segment constitutes a strategic challenge for Citroën, whose sales are sluggish and buyers are aging. The ë-C3 constitutes a “decisive step” in Mr. Koskas’ roadmap, which aims for “a market share of at least 5%” in Europe.