Citroën Unveils New Electric DS, Recalls Iconic Original
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Citroën has unveiled a new electric concept car, the DS, at the Paris Motor Show, drawing inspiration from its iconic 1948 predecessor. The original DS was designed as affordable transportation for French families and had a significant history, including its founder André Citroën's Jewish heritage and his efforts to thwart the Nazis during WWII. The new electric model faces stiff competition, particularly from Chinese manufacturers who have a cost advantage in electric vehicle production.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Citroën unveiled a new electric concept car, the DS, at the Paris Motor Show.
- The new DS is a retro-styled, small urban vehicle inspired by the original 1948 model.
- The original DS was designed as affordable transportation for French families and had a unique history.
- Founder André Citroën had Jewish heritage and actively sabotaged production during the Nazi occupation.
- The new electric DS faces strong competition from Chinese automakers with lower production costs.
- The original DS was produced until 1990, with over 3.8 million units sold.
Citroën has unveiled a new electric concept car, the DS, at the Paris Motor Show. The small, urban vehicle is designed to appeal to nostalgia with its retro styling and features aimed at enthusiasts. While not yet in production, the new DS is a far cry from its predecessor, which was intended as affordable transportation for the French nation.
The original DS, meaning "two horses" in French, has a rich history dating back to February 1878. Its founder, André Citroën, was the son of Levi and Masha Citroën, a Jewish diamond merchant from the Netherlands and his Polish wife. André, a gifted engineer, was inspired by Henry Ford's production methods but also learned from Ford's mistakes, implementing employee benefits like kindergartens and "13th salary" in his own factories.
Citroën's early success led to the company becoming the fourth-largest automaker globally by 1930. However, ambitious projects like the front-wheel-drive Traction Avant caused financial difficulties, leading to Michelin's acquisition of the company. Citroën himself passed away in 1935, shortly after selling his company.
Under Michelin's ownership, the company aimed to create a "very small car" (TPV) capable of carrying a family and a basket of eggs without breaking them, reflecting the poor road conditions in France at the time. This project, led by CEO Pierre Boulanger, faced challenges, including the Nazi occupation. Boulanger actively sabotaged production to prevent the cars from being used by the German war machine.
After World War II, the TPV project evolved into the iconic DS, officially revealed in 1948. It featured a small, air-cooled engine, a unique torsion bar suspension, and notably, no fuel gauge. The DS became a symbol of French ingenuity and affordability, produced in various forms, including a four-wheel-drive Sahara version used by oil companies in the Middle East, with some units imported to Israel.
Production of the original DS ceased in 1990 after over 3.8 million units were made, leaving a legacy that proved difficult to replicate. The new electric DS enters a competitive market, with a recent study indicating Chinese automakers are poised to dominate Europe due to lower production costs for electric vehicles. While the new DS includes a nod to the original with an "egg basket" feature, its design is more symbolic than practical for today's consumers, unlike its predecessor which was built for a genuine need.