Citroen UK boss: 90% chance of imminent Ami UK launch
More than 10,000 UK customers have registered interest in urban EV; sub-£6000 price likely
Citroën UK boss Eurig Druce has told Autocar that there is now a high likelihood that the diminutive Ami EV will be officially sold in the UK.
The short-range two-seater launched last year in Citroën's home market, and now with 10,400 statements of interest registered on a dedicated Ami website, confirmation of an imminent UK launch is said to be approaching.
"I said 75% in October, but now it's up to 90%," said Druce of the Ami arriving in the UK, adding: "if we're going to bring it, we'll do them both", referring to both the standard passenger EV and the one-seat cargo variant.
The Ami would not be converted to right-hand-drive for UK use; a Citroën UK spokesperson noted that its intended usage patterns make left-hand drive less of an obstacle than it would usually be, and actually makes it easier to exit the vehicle onto the kerb. Druce said: "That sounds like a big deal but, of course, due to the size of the car, the difference between having the steering wheel on the left or the right is probably only seven or eight inches - not a huge disadvantage".
As a 'Category 6' quadricycle with a top speed of 28mph, it would be subject to different homologation and MOT rules to a standard car, and will not qualify for the government's sub-£35,000 EV grant. Pricing remains unconfirmed, but Druce hinted at rough parity with the French-market Ami, suggesting an outright cost of around £6000 is on the cards.
Speaking to Autocar last year, Druce said there is a “huge desire” to bring the quirky two-seater to market here. “This is a true Citroën,” he elaborated. “This is absolutely what Citroën is all about. Its unconventional, it’s fun and it delivers on what it’s intended to be.”
The Ami is intended to propel Citroën into a new era of car-sharing and urban mobility. Crucially, it's classed as a quadricyle, like the Renault Twizy, which means it can be driven across Europe without a driving licence by those aged 16 or older.
Druce acknowledged that Citroën UK has imported a small number of Amis for assessment, stating that his recent drive in one around Coventry city centre "hasn't at all impacted on my desire to bring the car to the UK".
The French firm hopes that the Ami, which remains true to the Ami One concept in 2019, will appeal to a new generation of buyers as the appetite for more traditional entry-level cars, such as the C1 (which is unlikely to be replaced), wanes. It was launched in other European countries this summer.
The Ami is 90mm longer than the Twizy, at 2.41m, and has a 40mm-wider turning circle of 7.2m. Under its floor is a 5.5kWh lithium ion battery that can deliver up to 47 miles of range, while a sole motor allows it to hit a top speed of 26mph. The battery can be recharged in just three hours from a domestic socket.
In Europe, Citroën is offering three usage models: long-term rental, car-sharing and cash purchase. Rental requires a deposit of €2644 (currently £2227) and monthly payments of €19.99 (£17). Through car-sharing scheme Free2Move, Citroën parent firm the PSA Group’s offering, subscribers can drive the Ami for 26 cents (22p) per minute. To buy, the Ami costs €6000 (£5054).
Acquiring an Ami is an entirely online process, in which the EV can be delivered to one’s home or collected from a pick-up point. It will also be available in traditional Citroën dealerships, as well as pop-up stands in shops, such as French department store chain Fnac.
The Ami’s doors open in opposite directions, being rear-hinged on the driver’s side and front-hinged on the passenger side – a configuration intended to help access. There are two fixed, semi-opening windows, which Citroën flags as a nod to the iconic 2CV. A large glass surface, including a panoramic roof is claimed to give occupants a feeling of space as well as good visibility.
Citroën design boss Pierre Leclercq said the Ami and Ami One concept were developed side-by-side. "The concpet has to be more exceptional than the production car but the cleverless of the industrialisation model is the same, for example the door system and the functionality of the interior."
He added that the design was not intended to carry over into Citroën's wider model line. "The project is aside from cars - it has to be special. It doesn't have to carry the same brand identiy as broader line-up."
There's one colour available: Blue Ami, which is a coloured material rather than a paint finish, and described as having "a huge impact" on cost-saving. While the firm didn't say when the model would become profitable, a spokesman said: "We are not born to make things that are not profitable."
The interior is closed and heated, while the two seats are positioned side by side so that taller people can fit. Citroën claimed a carry-on suitcase can fit in a recess at the passenger’s feet. Sat-nav and music are accessed via a smartphone placed in a dedicated area in the middle of the dashboard.
Citroën describes the Ami as a “a practical response to new mobility expectations for short journeys [providing] easier access to city centres, micromobility for everyone and a real alternative to scooters, bicycles, mopeds and public transport, and at reasonable costs”.
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