Citröen Ami: a 100% Electric Car for Everyone, Even Those Without a License

Last Thursday, February 27th, the new launch from the well-known brand Citröen was presented in Paris. A 100% electric vehicle named Ami. A name that certainly fits its characteristics, as the most striking aspect, at first glance, is its small dimensions and fun design. But, as Vincent Cobeé, CEO of Citröen, and Pierre Léclercq, Director of Design at Citröen, have said, there is much more behind this car, which may appear toy-like.

One of the main themes of the day was Electric For All, a clear demonstration of the brand's intentions with its new 100% electric vehicle. Its main goal is to find a solution to the mobility problem in cities, and they want this to be a car for everyone, including those without a driver's license. Ami can be driven from the age of 14 or 16, depending on the country, and no driver's permit is necessary.

Another significant focus is the price, as Cobeé pointed out: "This mobility object that we are going to present can be bought and paid for monthly at $19.99, just like your phone bill. This is truly for everyone. This mobility object will cost $6,900". But the options don't stop there; Citröen has gone further. In addition to buying the car at a quite affordable price, they also offer the possibility of renting it for $0.26 per minute, just like a scooter.

The car has a range of 70 kilometers and can be purchased online; in fact, they recommend doing so, as they have added another innovation: if you order the car through their website, it will be delivered to your home, just like an Amazon package. An expert will accompany the vehicle to address any questions you may have about it. Additionally, Ami has a standard plug, so you can charge it at home like a mobile phone.

For the creation of this car, they relied on an optimized design to minimize costs to achieve an economical price; they have reused parts from other models available on the market. "We were clear: the price is the way to solve the problems of many people," argued Pierre Léclercq, the design director. They aim to push the limits of design, and this model was conceived solely as an electric object.

Léclercq has outlined the keys to the design of Ami: "It's disruptive; we didn't want to make a car; we wanted something focused on bikes and scooters. It's simple, comfortable, disruptive, electric, and of course, Citröen. It has a symmetrical appearance, and the reason is that in this way, we needed fewer tools and fewer parts. The car has a glass roof, which is a luxury considering it's a budget car, but thanks to this glazing, the car has greater visibility; from the roof, we can see traffic lights and much more road information."

Currently, Ami is only available in one color, which is the bluish gray you see in the photo, but there are various customization options, another factor that has been given special importance in this new launch. It comes with several accessory kits in different colors (green, white, orange, and black) and styles (Pop and Vives) so everyone can choose one that best suits their tastes.

The interior of the car is spacious, considering the vehicle's dimensions, which they have achieved using a series of tricks, such as staggered seating for the driver and passenger. It has no speakers or screen but includes a device that allows you to connect the car to your mobile to play music.

As the Citröen team has made clear: "This car is the fusion of technology and design. It is small but at the same time big. Form follows function. It will stand out in traffic. We wanted it to be very compact but with a panoramic roof. We have incorporated windows that were found in other cars. A modern color, bluish gray, neither masculine nor feminine. It can be customized. It has a revolutionary approach that aims to take the industry further, improving people's lives."

In the United States, it will be available starting in the second half of 2020.

For those who still do not have or want a driver's license, electric mobility can also be an option for you. Use our iWatmotion discount code and discover the alternatives.