COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Citroen WILL sell its tiny electric Ami in the UK from £6,000



Citroen's new back-to-basics green electric city car costing around £6,000 is to be sold in the UK following 'unprecedented' demand for it to cross the Channel.

Bosses gave the green light to the quirky two-seater Citroen Ami runaround coming here in spring 2022 after receiving more than 12,000 expressions of interest from potential British customers.

The French carmaker says the dinky car exemplifies the 'spirit' of the legendary cheap and cheerful 2CV.

So proud is the French car firm about exporting its new car to post-Brexit Britain that they have adorned one of the 47-mile-range models in a bright Union Flag - though it won't be sold with this paint-scheme option.

Powered by a 5.5kWh battery, the pure electric vehicle with zero-emissions has a top speed of 28mph and a range of up to 46 miles. It recharges in just three hours.

The Citroen Ami vehicle will be adapted for the UK market but be sold only in left-hand drive.

However, the vehicle is so small and the steering wheel so central in that cabin that this will make little to no difference to Britons' customers who are happy and willing to take the plunge.

The 12,000-plus customers who have already registered interest on the Citroen website will from today be given priority access to secure their Ami with a £250 refundable reservation fee.

From Monday (September 27) the reservation system will be open to all.

Final prices have yet to be announced, but translated from the Continental Euro price should be around £6,000.

In France, the basic Ami costs €6,990 (£5,945) rising to €8,350 (£7,119) for a range-topping model.

Car share and rental options are also being explored, as is already the Ami's main use in Paris, where it can be hired in the city in a range of flamboyant colours.

In France it is bought entirely online and can either can be delivered to your home or collected from a pick-up point, with the mantra: 'Ordered from your sofa, delivered to your home.'

That is also likely to be the case for UK customers.