- Renault Group’s Dacia brand has begun development of a new low-price electric car, likely to take the place of the current €17k/£15k Dacia Spring, once it goes on sale in under two years time.
- Unlike the current Dacia Spring, which is built in China, this new unnamed EV will be built in Europe – allowing Dacia to skirt European Union tariffs against EVs made in China – which could rise as high as 35.3%.
- The targeting of a price tag below €18,000/£15,000 suggests that the new Dacia could be even more affordable than its predecessor.
Twingo-based Dacia to be in showrooms by 2026
The new Dacia EV is set to be closely related underneath to the new Renault Twingo EV, which will target a similarly low sub-€20,000 price. Renault Group CEO has touted a 16-month development time for the new Dacia, while challenging “any competitor in the world to do that, including the Chinese when they come to Europe”. Judging by de Meo’s estimations, this new Dacia EV should be in showrooms by next year.
By 2026, the current Spring (minus its current facelift) will be a six-year-old design – seven years, if you count the Renault City K-ZE it is based upon. The competition in the space is hotting up, and the Spring’s value proposition is slightly weaker against new rivals such as the Leapmotor T03 – which we recently reviewed. Therefore, an all-new electric city car from Dacia, at a similar price point, will be a welcomed and necessary addition to its portfolio. We can expect to see a boost to battery range, performance, and on-board technology, from the new Dacia EV.
The development highlights the wider Renault Group’s strong push for affordable EVs. By the end of 2026, the group will have at least four sub-£23k electric cars on the market – the Renault 4, 5, Twingo, and this new Dacia model. The larger but equally affordable Dacia Sandero is due for a next generation launch in 2027, which will also be offered with a fully-electric powertrain.
