Citroën Ami (electric vehicle)
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Pierre Leclercq (designer) |
| Headquarters | Kenitra , Morocco |
Area served | Europe, Turkey, Morocco |
| Products | Electric quadricycle |
| Parent | Stellantis |
| Website | www |
The Citroën Ami is a compact, battery-powered quadricycle with two doors, introduced by the French manufacturer Citroën in 2020. Its design, created by Pierre Leclercq, pays homage to the original Citroën Ami produced between 1961 and 1978. The concept that led to the production model was known as the "Ami One." Both the Ami and Ami One were developed concurrently through a collaboration between Groupe PSA (currently Stellantis) and Altran. Assembly takes place at the Stellantis Kenitra plant located in Kenitra, Morocco. The vehicle is equipped with a compact 6 kW electric motor that drives the front wheels. Industry experts have likened its exceptionally small dimensions to "being inside a Lego brick."
History
The Ami One concept was first introduced by Citroën at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Its design features front-hinged driver doors and rear-hinged passenger doors, which share numerous components to streamline manufacturing expenses. Additionally, the front and rear bumpers utilize identical parts. To reduce unnecessary technology and keep production costs down, the interior depends heavily on smartphone connectivity for displaying information and managing audio functions, as explained by interior designer Jean-Arthur Madeleine.
The finalized production version of the Ami was revealed in February 2020. Pierre Leclercq noted that both the concept and production designs were developed in parallel; however, the Ami’s styling was not intended to influence Citroën's other vehicle lines. Manufacturing commenced in June 2020 at Stellantis’ facility in Kenitra, Morocco.
Overview
Classified as a light motor quadricycle, the Ami can be driven in France without a full driving license by individuals born before 1988 or those holding an AM license (previously known as the Road Safety Certificate). As a quadricycle, it is subject to a speed restriction of .
The Ami is accessible through Groupe PSA’s Free2Move carsharing service and can be rented or bought online or at retail outlets like Fnac and Darty, with which Citroën partnered for sales and rentals starting March 2020. Buyers may collect their vehicles from these stores or Citroën dealerships, or opt for home delivery.
In June 2022, Citroën released a limited-run My Ami Buggy edition (50 units), inspired by the My Ami Buggy concept car. Responding to high demand, a second generation comprising 1,000 Ami Buggies was produced in May 2023 and made available throughout Europe, Turkey, and Morocco.
November 2023 marked the launch of the Ami Pop trim level, which includes four alloy-style wheel covers, black graphic accents on the windshield and bumpers, a rear spoiler, plus distinctive graphics on the doors and quarter panels.
A refresh arrived in May 2024 introducing a new Night Sepia paint option along with relocated drive selection buttons positioned beneath the hazard light switch and phone holder on the dashboard.
At the October 2024 Paris Autosalon, Stellantis presented an updated version of the Ami featuring redesigned front and rear fascias. The headlights were moved higher while turn signals were repositioned lower near wheel height. A revised Citroën emblem was also introduced; however, central body styling and technical details remained unchanged. By that time, Citroën announced total sales approaching 65,000 units.
Opel Rocks-e
In August 2021, Opel unveiled the Opel Rocks-e, essentially a rebadged Citroën Ami tailored for Germany and launched in November 2021. Beginning in 2023, Opel rebranded this model as Opel Rocks Electric as part of its initiative to eliminate the "-e" suffix from electric vehicle names.
Since 2022, the Opel Rocks Electric has also been available in the Netherlands alongside the Citroën counterpart.
Fiat Topolino
The Fiat Topolino represents another rebadged model derived from the Citroën Ami and Opel Rocks, featuring distinct front, rear, and side styling elements. Its front design pays homage to the iconic 1957–1975 Fiat 500, while the rear is characterized by vertically oriented taillights. The Dolcevita edition offers a canvas roof paired with rope-style doors.
In 2025, Fiat unveiled the Topolino Vilebrequin Collector’s Edition, which includes upscale features such as an integrated shower, targeting specific lifestyle segments.
Technical characteristics
To minimize production expenses, the vehicle’s body exhibits full symmetry—both laterally and longitudinally—except for the doors and roof structures. The driver’s door utilizes a suicide door mechanism, whereas the passenger door opens in a conventional manner, allowing identical panel usage on both sides. There are only two side doors that provide access to storage compartments. All variants are configured as left-hand drive, even those intended for the right-hand drive market in the UK.
The dimensions of the car are in length, in width (excluding mirrors), and in height, with a total weight including the battery of .
It is equipped with a 6 kW electric motor operating at 48 V, powered by a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged up to 80% capacity within three hours using a standard 230 V household outlet. This setup grants a maximum driving range of under WMTC standards.
Dispute with Italy
In May 2024, Italian customs authorities detained 134 Fiat Topolinos at the port of Livorno, Tuscany, due to the presence of Italian flag decals on the doors despite their production taking place in Kenitra, Morocco. Italy initiated an inquiry against Stellantis for breaching the 2004 legislation prohibiting deceptive or false origin claims. A Stellantis representative clarified that the company adhered to legal requirements and that the stickers represented entrepreneurial origin rather than manufacturing location. Stellantis consented to remove these decals to settle the dispute.
Books
External links
- Official website (United Kingdom)