Dacia’s new affordable electric car will be based on the Renault Twingo, and the starting price in Europe is expected to be around 18,000 euros. This entry model is crucial to support Dacia’s goals of reducing the average CO2 emissions of the vehicle fleet.
As affordable electric cars from China continue to arrive in Europe, the question for traditional manufacturers is no longer whether they should respond, but how quickly they can do so. For Dacia, the solution is simple – to beat them on their turf by offering affordable electric cars under the European badge.
The Romanian brand, part of the Renault group, already sells the Spring model across the continent. Made in China, the Spring has carved out a niche for itself as one of the cheapest electric cars available in Europe, including Germany, where, with a massive €5,000 discount, it can be had for just €11,900.
Link to Twingo
The upcoming model will be based on the new Renault Twingo. Unlike the Spring, which is manufactured in China, the new EV will be assembled in Slovenia, in the same factory in Novi Mesto as its sibling with an internal combustion engine.
“Our goal is basically to maximize the offer of electric vehicles in the mini car segment. What we see is that the A-segment, and probably in the future also the B-segment, are moving very quickly towards fully electric models”, Dacia’s head of sales confirmed to Auto News Frank Marotte.
In order to avoid cannibalizing the sales of the Spring model, Dacia states that the new model will be “completely different”, not only in the exterior style, but also in the choice of colors, interior design and combination of equipment. The idea is to give each model its own identity, even if they serve a similar purpose at the affordable end of the EV spectrum.
Dacia has already revealed a few hints about the design. The sketch showed a compact hatchback s crossover elements and sharp lines, while a more restrained, camouflaged prototype appeared during the quarterly business report. Neither gives the full picture, but both suggest the new EV won’t just be a watered down copy of the Spring.
