Dacia will launch a new electric car, announces the head of the Renault group. We know how much it will cost, but not where in Europe it will be produced. “I challenge all our competitors to develop a car as quickly, even the Chinese”

Dacia to Launch Ultra-Affordable Electric City Car

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has announced plans for a groundbreaking new electric vehicle from Dacia: an affordable city car priced under €18,000, set to be manufactured in Europe. This development represents a significant shift in the EV market, aiming to make electric mobility accessible to a wider audience.

Record-Breaking Development Timeline

De Meo emphasized the speed at wich this new model, codenamed “Dacia de City,” will be developed, challenging competitors to match its rapid pace. “I challenge all our competitors to develop a car as quickly, even the Chinese producers entering Europe,” said De Meo, highlighting the ambitious timeframe of bringing this vehicle to market.

While conventional car development typically takes 4-5 years, Dacia aims to drastically shorten this process, bringing the “Dacia de City” to market in a record time.

Production Location and Market Potential

The exact location for “Dacia de City” production remains undisclosed, but Renault operates factories in various European countries, including France, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey.The vehicle’s pricing strategy targets accessibility, positioning it as an attractive alternative to traditional gasoline-powered city cars.

Learning from Dacia Spring’s Success and Challenges

Dacia’s foray into the EV market began in 2021 with the launch of “Dacia Spring,” a well-selling model produced in China. Though, import duties imposed by the EU have presented a financial challenge. Currently, over half of the fully-electric cars in Romania are Dacia Spring models, demonstrating the brand’s strong potential in the Romanian market.

Technical specifications and Design

“Dacia de City” is expected to be a successor to the “Dacia Spring” and will reportedly launch in mid-2026. Sources indicate that it will be more energy efficient than its predecessor and will share several components with the new Renault Twingo, which will also offer a fully electric version.

Renault Group’s Cost-Cutting Measures

According to British publication “Autocar UK,” the low price of the upcoming Dacia model will be achievable due to Renault Group’s successful implementation of cost-reduction measures. Such as, the new Renault Twingo has 40% lower production costs than the Renault 5, primarily due to a 30% reduction in the number of components.

Expanding Dacia’s Electric Lineup

Dacia has already confirmed plans for an electric version of the next-generation Sandero, scheduled for release in 2027, further solidifying the brand’s commitment to electrification.

Conclusion

Dacia’s planned foray into the affordable electric city car market is a significant development that could have a major impact on the automotive industry. With a focus on speed, affordability, and accessibility, the “Dacia de City” has the potential to make electric mobility a more mainstream option for consumers.

How does Dacia plan to make electric mobility so affordable with a targeted price under €18,000 for its new electric city car?

Dacia to Launch Ultra-affordable Electric City Car: An Interview with CEO Luca de Meo

Speeding into the Future: Luca de Meo on dacia’s Rapid EV Development

Archyde: Mr. de Meo, Dacia is aiming to launch its new electric city car in record time. Can you tell us more about this ambitious timeline?

Luca de Meo: Certainly. We’re looking at a development period of just a few years, considerably shorter than the conventional 4-5 years. We’re pushing ourselves and challenging the industry to keep up with the pace of change. Even the upcoming Renault Twingo’s development has been faster than typical, taking around 3 years.

Accessible Innovation: Pricing and Market potential

Archyde: With a targeted price under €18,000, how does Dacia plan to make electric mobility so affordable?

Luca de Meo: We’ve learned a lot from the Dacia Spring and have applied those insights to this new model. By sharing components with the new Renault Twingo and leveraging cost-reduction measures, we’re able to pass on significant savings to our customers.

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Lessons from Dacia Spring

Archyde: The Dacia Spring has been a success, notably in Romania.Though, import duties have posed some challenges. How will this influence the “Dacia de City” strategy?

Luca de Meo: The success of the Dacia Spring has shown us the appetite for affordable EVs. We’ll use that knowledge to our advantage while also addressing the challenges posed by import duties. By manufacturing the “Dacia de City” in Europe, we can mitigate those issues.

Design and Specifications: What’s in Store for the “Dacia de City”?

Archyde: Can you give us any hints about the design and specifications of the “Dacia de City”?

Luca de meo: Well, it’s still early days, but we’re aiming to make it more energy-efficient than the Dacia Spring. It will likely share some components with the new Renault Twingo, which will also offer a fully electric version. As for design,it will be a modern,compact city car that reflects Dacia’s bold,no-nonsense approach.

readerInteraction: The Impact of an Affordable Electric City Car

Archyde: If triumphant, the “Dacia de city” could significantly boost the adoption of EV technology among everyday car buyers. How do you see this playing out?

Luca de Meo: I think it could be transformative. Electric mobility shouldn’t be the preserve of the wealthy or the environmentally conscious. It should be accessible to everyone. By making EVs affordable, we’re opening up the technology to a much wider audience. let’s see how the market responds!