{"id":45141,"date":"2026-05-23T13:36:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/?p=45141"},"modified":"2026-05-23T13:56:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:56:35","slug":"a-2cv-but-also-the-return-of-the-ds-the-new-citroen-explained-in-six-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/?p=45141","title":{"rendered":"A 2CV, but also the return of the DS! The new Citro\u00ebn explained in six questions."},"content":{"rendered":"
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On Thursday, May 21, Stellantis announced that the DS Automobiles brand would be \u201cled\u201d by Citro\u00ebn. The DS lineup is thus returning to the Citro\u00ebn fold. We will examine later the implications of this \u201cdaughter returning to her mother\u2019s home\u201d after ten years of independence. The next day, Friday, May 22, Citro\u00ebn confirmed the return of the 2CV in 2028 at a price under \u20ac15,000. With DS and the 2CV announced just 24 hours apart, Citro\u00ebn is reclaiming the glory of the 1950s\u2014an era defined by a lineup led by these two icons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That was when Pierre Bercot, the CEO at the time mentioned below, did not hesitate to write in his book that \u201cit was enough, and that an average car<\/em> (between the 2CV and the DS, Ed.) was nothing more than a simplistic mass-market model. Why should all manufacturers produce the same car when, for example, Citro\u00ebn is unable to meet the demand for the two models <\/em>(2CV and DS, NDA) we have chosen and where we still have a clear path<\/em>…”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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75 years later, and in just two days, the brand\u2019s latest developments have taken on a touch of history. But of course, the context is light-years away from that of the 1950s. Citro\u00ebn hasn\u2019t been acting alone for quite some time now: PSA in 1974\u20131976 with Peugeot, Stellantis in 2021 with\u2026 13 sister brands that are nonetheless competitors. Since May 21 and the restructuring of the Stellantis galaxy finalized by Antonio Filosa, let\u2019s try to understand where the double-chevron brand now stands within this galaxy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We don\u2019t have any official answers yet, as the announcement is still fresh for all Stellantis brands, whether in the United States or Europe. But the landscape has truly changed, and there will now be a \u201cbefore May 21\u201d and an \u201cafter.\u201d It remains to be seen whether the French brand will benefit from this new group architecture. The answers provided are based on factual information. They offer a glimpse into the new chapter for one of Stellantis\u2019 most exciting European brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTION #1<\/strong>
Where does Citro\u00ebn stand now following the restructuring of the Stellantis group on May 21, 2026?<\/strong>
Let\u2019s be honest: not in the best spot! But there\u2019s an undeniable logic behind the new \u201corganization chart\u201d for the group\u2019s brands. Antonio Filosa, who succeeded Carlos Tavares in 2025, decided to break away from the group\u2019s 14 brands being treated as equals\u2014a status that was merely nominal. Until then, the brands fit into very conventional categories, such as the Premium division, with Alfa Romeo, DS Automobiles, and Lancia, or the mainstream division, with Citro\u00ebn and Fiat, while Peugeot aimed to move upmarket. Opel occupied a position between the two French brands. From now on, the importance of the brands is determined by their geographic reach and commercial weight: Peugeot, Jeep, RAM, and Fiat are the group\u2019s four pillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stellantis is banking on these four global brands, which offer the greatest potential in terms of volume and profitability. Peugeot, because it is setting out to reclaim the Chinese market in partnership with Dongfeng*, and Fiat, because it has a presence in Latin America. Citro\u00ebn has now been relegated to the bottom shelf, as a so-called regional brand. There, it sits alongside Chrysler, Dodge, Alfa Romeo, and Opel. Yet Citro\u00ebn is also present in Latin America (see the Citro\u00ebn Basalt below). So why Fiat? Well, the numbers speak for themselves: Fiat dwarfs the French brand in terms of volume. In fact, Fiat ranks ahead of ALL its cousins in the Stellantis galaxy, with just over 1.2 million models sold in 2024. Mainly… in Latin America.
*Stellantis is ushering in a new era of cooperation within the China-based DPCA joint venture to produce two Peugeot models and two Jeep models for the Chinese market and other regions<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Citro\u00ebn will therefore not be part of the group of four brands that will receive 70% of Stellantis\u2019s investments in brands and products. \u201cThe five regional brands\u2014Chrysler, Dodge, Citro\u00ebn, Opel, and Alfa Romeo\u2014will benefit from the same technologies and will emphasize their differentiation in order to better meet their customers’ expectations.<\/em>\u201d One thing is certain: the carry-over approach \u2014 which involves reusing many structural, mechanical, and other components \u2014 still has a bright future ahead of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thierry M\u00e9troz, Design Director at DS Automobiles, reveals the modifications made to the new Peugeot 3008 platform to align with the dynamic styling of the DS N\u00b08.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Stellantis designer who has since left the group told me that “the scope for differentiation was quite limited and<\/em> it was getting complicated. But it\u2019s the same for all the major multi-brand groups, starting with Volkswagen. We may have gone too far with certain body styles. Initially, we had a classic, logical carry-over defined by the platform. Then we had to factor in the constraints of the structural hard points\u2014the windshield, the side windows, the front doors… The problem was that the economic constraints were such that we had to go through with it<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTION #2<\/strong><\/strong>
Is the return of the 2CV with the 2028 E-Car great news for Citro\u00ebn?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yes, of course, since Citro\u00ebn is returning to what is still known today as the A-segment\u2014the small car segment. Like all manufacturers on the Old Continent, Citro\u00ebn has benefited from new European regulations for electric cars that are simpler and less expensive to produce: these are the M1E vehicles, which fall between quadricycles and automobiles. The irony of the story in Europe is that the PSA Group (before becoming Stellantis) was one of the segment A\u2019s main competitors. In 2009, Citro\u00ebn unveiled the DS Inside concept for the future DS3\u2014a highly customizable, premium model. And thus more expensive and profitable. But it didn\u2019t replace the previous model, the small, affordable, and charming C2. Then PSA dropped its Citro\u00ebn C1 and Peugeot 107\/108 models, which were produced jointly with Toyota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s a shame, especially when you consider that Renault, for its part, stuck with its Twingo. This left the field wide open for the competition. That\u2019s how Citro\u00ebn, after discontinuing the C1, found itself without an entry-level model in its lineup. The company was very late to the game with the recent C3 and its e-C3 variant, which has a short range. The E-Car project will therefore be welcome. And what stands out from the first press release announcing the 2CV is this sentence: \u201cTrue to Citro\u00ebn\u2019s DNA, the ambition is clear: to imagine the icon of tomorrow while remaining faithful to the original specifications of the TPV that gave birth to the 2CV.<\/em>\u201d And we hope this refers to the \u201creal\u201d TPV, the one that gave rise to the 1939 2CV shown below and was never produced as is, but which pushed the concept of weight reduction and cost control to the extreme. Fireflies were even tested for a time to serve as lighting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For now, no information has been leaked about the platform (below) on which the 2028 2CV will be based. This E-Car platform is reportedly not yet finalized, which we find hard to believe. Rumors point to Leapmotor\u2019s platform. It makes perfect sense, but hasn\u2019t been confirmed yet. Especially since the Citro\u00ebn will be produced in Italy at the iconic Panda factory. And since the Panda has an inexpensive platform that can be converted into a 100% EV platform! You bet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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QUESTION #3<\/strong><\/strong>
Is Citro\u00ebn more of a competitor to Fiat than ever before with its upcoming E-Car 2CV?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Citro\u00ebn will obviously not be the only one to have \u201cits own\u201d E-Car. While the French automaker can count on a design that reinterprets the spirit of the 2CV, it won\u2019t be available until 2028. But you\u2019ll get a first glimpse of it at the Paris Motor Show in October. The illustration above is taken from a screenshot of Citro\u00ebn\u2019s (teaser) video presentation of the 2CV. Will this 2CV arrive before its rival, the Fiat Panda E-Car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yes, in principle, since the Fiat is slated for 2030. However, the press release on the brand reorganization\u2014centered around the four pillars of RAM, Jeep, Peugeot, and Fiat\u2014specifies that these brands must serve as \u201claunchpads\u201d (for technology, concepts, etc.). But it appears that this requirement applies only to Stellantis\u2019 global projects\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In that case, the Citro\u00ebn 2CV\u2014which is aimed exclusively at the European market\u2014should be the first to hit the market. As for the Panda, the futuristic concept unveiled by Fiat above will be larger than shown in this illustration, conforming to the M1E regulation. This regulation allows for vehicles with a maximum length of 4.20 meters\u2014longer than the current C3! E-Cars therefore remain true cars with no weight limit. But for them, hybridization\u2014even mild\u2014is out of the question, as they must be 100% electric and assembled in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTION #4<\/strong><\/strong>
Citro\u00ebn will \u201coversee\u201d the DS Automobiles brand. What does that mean?<\/strong><\/strong>
For Citro\u00ebn, Stellantis\u2019 restructuring isn\u2019t just about the future E-Car project. At the other end of the spectrum, DS is back in the spotlight! And this comes as a bit of a surprise\u2014one that could be seen as\u2026 a heavy blow. Take a few seconds to put yourself in the shoes of Xavier Chardon, the current head of the Citro\u00ebn brand, when he realized he was going to be steering DS Automobiles. A poisoned chalice or, on the contrary, a godsend? Xavier Chardon has so far done everything\u2014and done it well\u2014to reposition the brand, alongside his entire product, sales, marketing, and design teams, around key values: \u201cpositioning Citro\u00ebn as a leader in accessible electric mobility, offering greater freedom of movement and more added value at an affordable price, while maintaining a strong identity and personality.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And now, as of May 21, 2026, Xavier Chardon must \u201csteer\u201d a brand that represents the exact opposite: the premium segment, even a sort of exclusivity and an extravagance\u2014the term is not pejorative here\u2014of French luxury. Are the two brands compatible? They will have to be, according to the wishes of Stellantis\u2019s CEO. Should they keep two distinct logos, contrary to what we\u2019re suggesting in the image above of the DS No. 4? Citro\u00ebn might well find itself grappling with the same dilemma it faced when deciding where to place the DS logo\u2014and the Citro\u00ebn logo\u2014on the first DS models (3, 4, and 5). This continued all the way up to the 2012 DS No. 9 concept car, the last Citro\u00ebn in the DS lineup to feature both logos before the DS line became a brand in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The head of design at Citro\u00ebn at the time (Thierry M\u00e9troz, who would later become head of design at DS Automobiles) had created two grille designs for this prototype: one that was 100% DS and another that was 100% Citro\u00ebn. Both were shipped to China, where the Citro\u00ebn was unveiled in 2012. Question: What will become of the DS Automobiles design team? Will it move over to Citro\u00ebn? And will its head, Thierry M\u00e9troz, follow suit or take the path of his friend of over thirty years, Jean-Pierre Plou\u00e9, who left the group last fall to pursue an active retirement? And what about Xavier Peugeot, head of the DS Automobiles brand, and all his teams and sales staff who had the pleasure of marketing products in dedicated, cozy showrooms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These questions remain unanswered for now, but the reorganization should move quickly. DS Automobiles is \u201cled\u201d by Citro\u00ebn. The same will be true for Abarth and Lancia, both of which are led by Fiat. If Citro\u00ebn, a so-called \u201cregional\u201d brand, has already been demoted in the hierarchy under its parent company Peugeot (this is just a metaphor; I don\u2019t want to reignite the Peugeot\/Citro\u00ebn rivalry from the mid-1970s at PSA…), what will become of DS Automobiles, whose FaSTLAne <\/em>2030plan doesn\u2019t even mention the product lineup!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s midnight. What will DS Automobiles become from now on?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

QUESTION #5<\/strong><\/strong>
Will Citro\u00ebn benefit from the shorter development time for new projects mandated by the new organization?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s some great news announced at the May 21 conference: Thanks to its new STLA One platform, new AI tools, and partnerships, Stellantis aims to reduce its vehicle development cycle from approximately 44 months to two years. Take this figure with a grain of salt, though, as it all depends on when you kick off a program: is it in the early stages (see here: https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/?p=44357<\/a>) or when everything is finalized in terms of technology and design?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In any case, Citro\u00ebn will obviously benefit from this development, especially since Citro\u00ebn\u2019s head of design, Pierre Leclercq, recently told us that \u201cwe have a project in our studios aimed at being the fastest in the group in terms of design.<\/em>\u201d He was no doubt referring to this 2CV project scheduled for release in… two years! Shortening development times, as is the case with all automotive groups, will allow each brand to improve its agility. And Citro\u00ebn will undoubtedly have a few surprises in store. Let\u2019s see if that\u2019s possible with our final question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTION #6<\/strong><\/strong>
What is Citro\u00ebn\u2019s product plan under its new structure within Stellantis?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As hinted at above, the 2030 Citro\u00ebn lineup will feature the all-electric 2CV and likely (to be confirmed, as it\u2019s unofficial) two models in the C-segment. The sales potential of the C3 and C3 Aircross duo will obviously be prioritized \u2014 special editions on the horizon? \u2014 and the introduction of the 2CV at under \u20ac15,000, depending on its success, will allow the brand to push its C3 toward versions or variants with higher profitability than today\u2019s models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Artist’s rendering (Madame AI) featuring an icon, and a project hoping to become one\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While Fiat will soon begin selling the Sportback<\/em> version of its Grizzly (center, below) alongside the urban SUV variant, Citro\u00ebn is reportedly still not authorized to sell its Basalt (which is also a type of C3 Sportback<\/em>) in Europe, even though it is sold in Latin American countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One major question remains: what will become of the innovative ideas behind the Oli and Elo concept cars (below)? It\u2019s easy to imagine that Citro\u00ebn won\u2019t miss out on the highly likely resurgence of the minivan concept, especially with the arrival of flatter battery packs that increase interior flexibility. But will Citro\u00ebn be the first to bring this potential compact minivan to market?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To quote the exact wording of the announcements made on Thursday, May 21, it states that the four multi-regional brands (Fiat, Peugeot, Jeep, and Ram) will be the natural first launchers of all new global programs and technologies. Will Fiat be the first in this segment of affordable minivans, or will the term \u201cglobal program\u201d\u2014which does not apply to Citro\u00ebn (given the European market for this type of vehicle)\u2014allow the French brand to make its own moves as it sees fit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In conclusion, we are publishing below a chart presented on Thursday, May 21, during the conference, taken from the segment on the enlarged European market. It outlines the major launches planned for the next four years. Peugeot\u2019s product lineup is the most extensive, as the Lion brand has fallen behind Renault due to the latter\u2019s rapid refresh of the Clio and the success of the all-electric R5. The 208\/2008 duo will arrive next year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fiat will complete its lineup with the two Grizzly models derived from the Grande Panda and based on the reimagined C3 Aircross concept. Opel will benefit from four new products during this period. And yet, the graphic for the German brand makes no mention of the E-Car, hence our legitimate question. Citro\u00ebn is allocated three slots for products based on the Smart-car platform and the E-Car. Three, not one more\u2026 For now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BONUS: The revival of the 2CV, conceived in 2000 by the Citro\u00ebn design studio<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just as Jean-Pierre PLou\u00e9 had taken the helm of Citro\u00ebn\u2019s design department, the existing team\u2014including Dan Abrasmson, Oleg Son, and Donato Coco\u2014was working tirelessly: the 1998 C3 Lumi\u00e8re concept car, the 1999 C6 Lignage\u2026 Behind the scenes, the design team didn\u2019t hesitate to defy boss Claude Satinet, who wouldn\u2019t hear of retro design, and created a 2CV for the 2000s. Here it is painted in chick yellow, to make it less austere than its original gray. It was officially unveiled during Citro\u00ebn\u2019s centennial celebration in 2019 at La Fert\u00e9 Vidame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On Thursday, May 21, Stellantis announced that the DS Automobiles brand would be \u201cled\u201d by Citro\u00ebn. The DS lineup is thus returning to the Citro\u00ebn fold. We will examine later the implications of this \u201cdaughter returning to her mother\u2019s home\u201d after ten years of independence. The next day, Friday, May […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45141"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45141"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45193,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45141\/revisions\/45193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}