The 2026 Paris Auto Show highlighted a shift in the European automotive market as legacy manufacturers respond to growing competition from Chinese brands like BYD, Geely, and XPENG. European OEMs are focusing on retro-futuristic designs, faster development cycles, and a revival of the city car segment.
Smart introduced the #2, a two-seater EV with a 36 kWh battery and 290 km WLTP range, priced from €20,000. The company targets annual sales of 40,000 units, with a potential four-seater #4 model expected to add 30,000 units annually to reach profitability.
Stellantis unveiled the retro-inspired Citroen 2 CV, priced at €15,000, with deliveries starting in 2028. The company projects annual sales of 50,000 units, while the combined output of the 2 CV, Fiat Panda, and a future Leapmotor model is expected to reach 170,000 units per year.
The new Dacia Spring, produced in Slovenia, starts at €18,000. Renault-Nissan Alliance expects the Spring, along with the Renault Twingo and Nissan Pixo, to achieve profitability through combined annual sales. Meanwhile, the Geely E2, starting at €20,000, targets 60,000 annual sales in Europe.
Leapmotor is launching the B03 hatchback in Europe, priced from €20,000, with a sales target of 50,000 units per year. The next-generation Peugeot 208, featuring a 500 km WLTP range, aims for 70,000 to 80,000 annual units, while the XPENG L03 crossover targets 40,000 to 50,000 units.
Audi presented the A2 e-tron, based on the VW ID.3 platform, offering a 646 km WLTP range. With a starting price of €38,000, the model is projected to reach 50,000 units in annual sales.
