Romanian budget car brand Dacia confirms new compact electric model

LONDON: A new ultra-compact Dacia electric model will join the firm’s ranks in the next two years.

Made in Europe, the new A-segment EV will be "developed in 16 months and will be sold at less than €18,000".

Confirmed in a Renault Group results conference, the new vehicle is likely to sit on the same platform as the upcoming Renault Twingo.

The Twingo, which was first revealed in concept form back in 2023, uses fewer parts and resources than a traditional electric vehicle which contributes to a lower price tag and reduced lifetime emissions.

It is believed that Dacia’s existing compact electric vehicle – the Spring – will still be built alongside this new model.

Though likely to be similar in size, the Spring is produced in China – at the Dongfeng Renault plant in Hubei – whereas this new version will be made solely in Europe.

If EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars go ahead – should an agreement not be made between the country and the bloc – it could make the Spring significantly more expensive.

Though exact specifications and ranges have yet to be confirmed, the new Dacia model could get a similar level of equipment to the Twingo, which gets a seven-inch instrument panel and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen.

Materials such as cork are used inside the Twingo’s interior to help lessen its environmental impact, though whether this new Dacia will get these features is unclear as yet.

Luca de Meo, chief executive of Renault, said that he would “defy any competitor in the world to do that, including the Chinese when they come to Europe” to develop and create a car in under 16 months, as the new Dacia will be.