Breaking: Dacia developing £15k city car for Europe

Value-oriented Renault Twingo twin will be built in Europe and developed in just 16 months Dacia has begun development of a new electric city car for Europe, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has confirmed. Closely related to the upcoming Renault Twingo, it is being designed as a successor to the Dacia Spring, but unlike that car – which is imported from China – it will be built in Europe.  "We're preparing to go one step further in terms of EV affordability," De Meo said, revealing that the new model is planned to be priced from less than €18,000 (£15,000). He also said it will be ready for market in just 16 months' time. "I defy any competitor in the world to do that," he added.  While the new car is set to match the current Spring on pricing, however, it is likely to make substantial gains in performance, technology and capability.  The current Spring is based on the China-market Renault City K-ZE, which was launched in 2019 on the Renault Group's CMF-A platform for emerging markets. The new car, meanwhile, is being developed in parallel with the Twingo and is set to share that car's AMPR Small platform - a version of the architecture which also underpins the larger Renault 4 and 5.  Its rapid 16-month gestation process will make it the fastest-developed Renault Group model yet - a product of the company's new Leap 100 initiative which targets a 50-week development window for all new cars. "We've moved to China speed", said de Meo, hailing the success of the company's partnership with a Chinese R&D consultancy on the Twingo programme.  This breaking news story is being updated.

Feb 20, 2025 - 08:52
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Breaking: Dacia developing £15k city car for Europe
Dacia A segment EV teaser 2025 Value-oriented Renault Twingo twin will be built in Europe and developed in just 16 months

Dacia has begun development of a new electric city car for Europe, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has confirmed.

Closely related to the upcoming Renault Twingo, it is being designed as a successor to the Dacia Spring, but unlike that car – which is imported from China – it will be built in Europe. 

"We're preparing to go one step further in terms of EV affordability," De Meo said, revealing that the new model is planned to be priced from less than €18,000 (£15,000).

He also said it will be ready for market in just 16 months' time. "I defy any competitor in the world to do that," he added. 

While the new car is set to match the current Spring on pricing, however, it is likely to make substantial gains in performance, technology and capability. 

The current Spring is based on the China-market Renault City K-ZE, which was launched in 2019 on the Renault Group's CMF-A platform for emerging markets. The new car, meanwhile, is being developed in parallel with the Twingo and is set to share that car's AMPR Small platform - a version of the architecture which also underpins the larger Renault 4 and 5. 

Its rapid 16-month gestation process will make it the fastest-developed Renault Group model yet - a product of the company's new Leap 100 initiative which targets a 50-week development window for all new cars.

"We've moved to China speed", said de Meo, hailing the success of the company's partnership with a Chinese R&D consultancy on the Twingo programme. 

This breaking news story is being updated.