Citroen weighs making India a global production base for the 2CV EV

Citroen is evaluating India as a global production base for its 2CV EV, according to a report by Autocar India published on 24 October 2026. The study looks at whether the French carmaker's Indian manufacturing operations could supply the electric revival of the 2CV to markets beyond the country.

The 2CV is one of the most recognisable nameplates in Citroen's history. The original was a small, cheap, utilitarian car built for post-war France. An electric version would carry that badge into a very different market.

Citroen already builds cars in India. The company sells the C3 and eC3 here, and its local operations sit under the Stellantis group, which runs a plant in Tamil Nadu. That footprint is the base any export plan would draw on.

Why India

India's cost base is the obvious draw. Local engineering and component sourcing have grown cheaper and deeper over the past decade, and several global carmakers now use Indian plants to serve right-hand-drive markets. A small, affordable EV built here could be shipped to Southeast Asia, Africa and parts of Europe.

The government's production-linked incentive scheme for the auto sector adds another layer. It rewards local manufacturing and exports, which fits the kind of volume model a 2CV EV would need to work.

There's a catch. India's own EV market is still small, and the small-car segment here is price-sensitive. A 2CV EV built for export would have to clear European safety and emissions norms, which pushes up cost.

What's confirmed, and what isn't

Autocar India's report says Citroen is evaluating the idea. It does not give a timeline, a production target or a plant location. Citroen has not announced a decision.

• No launch date has been shared.
• No investment figure has been disclosed.
• No export markets have been named.

That leaves the plan at the study stage. Carmakers run these evaluations often, and many never reach a factory floor.

For India's clean-energy story, the signal matters. If Citroen commits, it would be another global brand using Indian plants to build EVs for the world, not just for local buyers. That's a step up from assembly for the domestic market.

Stellantis has been cutting costs and reworking its global footprint. India has come up repeatedly as a low-cost hub in those discussions. The 2CV EV question fits that pattern.

Citroen's India arm did not share further details in the Autocar India report. The company's next move will be watched by suppliers and state governments alike.