Citroën exhibited the 2 CV Fourgonnette Concept at the Paris Motor Show, which anticipates an electric version of its most emblematic French van. This vehicle is a reinterpretation of the model that served for three decades to transport goods, parcels, and tools through the streets of France.
Unlike the 2 CV passenger car, which will be available in European stores only in 2028, this concept van has no short-term production forecast. According to Citroën itself, the development of this project was an initiative of the brand's designers, conceived as a passion-driven style exercise, although the company mentions that the concept opens up new possibilities without specifying which ones.
The original Fourgonnette was launched in 1951, three years after the 2 CV passenger car. Its first iteration, named AU, used the same two-cylinder engine as the car and had a capacity to carry up to 250 kg, reaching a maximum speed of 60 km/h. Over time, the van evolved; the AK 350 version, equipped with a 0.6 engine, began to support 350 kg, and the AKS 400, introduced in 1970, received a higher roof and increased its capacity to 400 kg.
In 1963, Citroën made an aesthetic modification by removing the ripples from the upper sides to simplify the application of commercial nameplates. Until 1981, 1,246,299 units were manufactured. Xavier Chardon, President of Citroën, emphasized that the Fourgonnette represented more than just a work tool, being an integral part of the daily life of generations of artisans, merchants, and delivery people.
The presented concept maintains the pillars of the 2 CV passenger car: simplicity, ingenious solutions, and ease of use. The brand's intention is to offer professionals an electric mobility option that is more accessible and human. Currently, Citroën's smallest electric utility vehicle is the My Ami Cargo, a cargo version of the Ami quadricycle launched in 2021, which carries up to 140 kg, representing just over half the capacity of the first Fourgonnette 75 years ago.