Stellantis to launch tiny city-focused E-Car by 2028

Stellantis has announced that it will put a ‘groundbreaking’ new E-Car compact EV into production within 18 months.

The parent group of Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall says it wants to meet the growing demand for small, affordable EV with a model that will meet the European Commission’s planned E-Car framework.

This framework is loosely inspired by Japan’s kei car regulations and aims to create a city-focused class of car between the current M1 passenger car and L7 quadricycle classes. The M1E class also aims to promote European manufacturing by rewarding car makers who build in Europe with “super credits” towards their corporate CO2 targets.

In recognition of this, Stellantis says its first E-Car will be built at its Pomigliano d’Arco plant in Italy, where the hybrid Panda is currently made.

The group said the “innovative, affordable” EV will be developed in the “true tradition of European people’s mobility”, and address the rapid contraction of the affordable small car market in recent years.

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa commented: “The E-Car is a concept that finds its natural match in the small car success that runs deep in our European Stellantis DNA.

“Our customers are calling for a revival of small, stylish vehicles, proudly produced in Europe, which are also affordable and environmentally friendly. Stellantis is answering their call with exciting new models for multiple brands.”

Details of those brand-specific models are under wraps but it has long been rumoured that Citroen is poised to bring back the 2CV name on a cheaper A-segment model to sit beneath the E-C3.

Fiat has also left space for a “baby” Panda to sit beneath the Grande Panda as part of a planned five-car Panda “family”.

Competition in the electric A-segment is set to hot up in the coming year with the arrival of cars such as the Renault Twingo, Nissan Pixo, Volkswagen ID.1 and Smart #2. However, cars in the E-Car class are expected to sit below these, with smaller batteries and less powerful motors, as well as restricted physical dimensions, all intended to keep costs down and make them suitable for crowded urban environments. Dacia has previously hinted at its own E-Car design with the Hipster, pictured below.

Full specifications for the M1E class are yet to be set out, but the European Commission said it aimed to set requirements for a 10-year period to give manufacturers certainty for product planning.