Citroen has charged ahead in the race to build affordable electric cars  - and is taking the fight to the Chinese car makers - with the news that the forthcoming e-C3 will be priced at under £21,000 when it arrives in the UK next year. This keeps the low price promise made when the Oli concept car was revealed.

Making good on its commitment to ensure mobility is accessible to all, Citroen's new boss Thierry Koskas - who took on the role earlier this year - confirmed to Electrifying at a briefing in Paris that the entry level model ‘just over’ 300km (186 miles) of range, while also hinting that larger batteries are expected to follow.

At a time when many car makers, including Ford, are stepping back from building small cars due to the challenge of making them profitable this is a bold move from the French brand and will be great news for UK car buyers who have long been critical of the lack of affordable electric models.

Speaking to Electrifying at a briefing in Paris, Koskas stated: “Citroen needs to fight on the same field with the Chinese brands, but not be defensive” and went on to explain it will “go on the offensive with the 100 years of history of Citroen has, our large sales network and our trust as a brand.”

Simplicity is at the heart of the Citroen's future strategy and Koskas admitted this is key to ensuring profitability while keeping costs down. From an increasingly digital car buying experience, to a streamlined offering of options and an interior with smart but cost effective features, Kostas explained that ‘optimising many different elements’ was key to building the e-C3 at this price point.

Ginny and Citroen's new CEO Thierry Koskas

Further economies will be gained by building the e-C3 on an evolution of the foundations used for an Indian version of the current C3 - which bodes well given that it was voted ‘Urban Car of the Year’ at the 2023 World Car Awards - and it will be built at what Koskas describes as Citroen's ‘very efficient’ factory in Slovakia, which builds the current C3 along with the Peugeot 208.

At approximately 4,000mm, the same size as the forthcoming VW ID.2, its footprint is no larger than the current car but due to the flexibility that comes from designing the e-C3 as an electric car first Koskas confirmed it will offer plenty of space and levels of comfort that should ‘exceed customer expectations’. 

Citroen hasn’t confirmed any technical details but the e-C4 will most likely be front-wheel drive and may well use less expensive lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries given that Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares confirmed during the presentation of the group’s financial results earlier this year that the company intends to launch electric cars in Europe using them.  

The e-C3 sold in Europe will share parts with the Indian market version (above)

LFP batteries are widely used by Chinese car makers and can tolerate more frequent and faster charging, they use less expensive materials, and can - crucially - make electric cars cheaper.

When asked if that affordable price will still be a reality next year when the e-C4 goes on sale, Koskas told Electrifying.com that he was confident about the price point thanks in part to a commitment to a ‘Fair Price’ strategy which is being rolled out across Europe. Started in the UK by Citroen UK’s former managing director Eurig Druce, the strategy still allows some room for discounting whilst setting a more transparent price which applies both online and in the dealership. 

Kostas also discussed the possibility of innovative schemes to encourage the longer use of Citroens cars, like subscription, while reinforcing that the e-C3 will also have a strong recycling story when they reveal more details.

The e-C3 is the first electric car Citroen has launched since it revealed its ‘halo’ car the groundbreaking Oli, a winner of an Electrifying Green Hero Award for its commitment to sustainability. 

On the Oli Koskas told us: “all the concepts and features on the Oli are going to come onto production cars at some point. Including the seats, the roof you can stand on, the right size battery and the lightweight see through wheels."

Ginny Says:

“With just five electric cars currently on sale in the UK under £30,000 - and not a single one under £25,000 - this is very welcome news from Citroen. This will be a game changer for UK car buyers, enabling many more drivers to join the electric revolution. Citroen is able to get the the new e-C4 on sale over a year ahead of the Volkswagen ID.2 which begs the question: why is taking VW so long?”