Opel is open to the idea of a new entry-level EV that could be smaller and more affordable than the Corsa supermini. With a target price of €25,000 ($26,500), the unnamed model could rival the army of upcoming urban EVs including the Cirtoen e-C3, Fiat Panda, Renault 5, Kia EV2, and VW ID.1 / ID.2.
Opel’s previous entry-level offerings included the Agila, the Karl, and the more premium Adam, although all three have been discontinued from the range. A new city car was deemed “possible” by Florian Huettl, the CEO of Opel who admitted that “there is space in the range for a smaller model” below the Corsa.
While an Opel-branded urban EV has not been officially confirmed, those comments suggest that it could already be under development. Our speculative rendering shows how it could look, based on the new styling language that was introduced earlier this year by the Opel Experimental concept.
More: 2024 Citroen e-C3 Debuts As A Budget-Friendly EV With A 199-Mile Range
Thanos Pappas for CarScoops
The CEO didn’t get into details about the underpinnings of a smaller EV but judging from Stellantis parts bin it could ride on either the budget-friendly “Smart Car” or the more technologically advanced STLA Small platform. The former was introduced by the Citroen e-C3 and has been confirmed to underpin 7 new models from Citroen and two other Stellantis brands – most likely Fiat and Opel.
As reported by Autocar, the Opel and Vauxhall boss hinted that the key for such an offering is the development of “new energy-dense battery chemistries” that will be cheaper, lighter, and smaller in size. This would allow Opel’s urban EV to combine a small footprint with a decent amount of range and interior space without being too expensive.
Huettl said that cheap EVs are becoming “a big pull” in the industry as this is what most customers want. In that context, Opel targets a €25,000 ($26,500) price tag for the next-generation electric city car which matches the target price of the upcoming Renault 5 and VW ID.2 rivals.
Interestingly, the Opel CEO said that the aim of €20,000 ($21,250) is “unattainable” due to the high cost of materials. This goes right against the fact that the all-new Citroen e-C3 will eventually start at €19,990 ($21,200) with the smaller battery. VW has a similar target for the entry price of the upcoming ID.1 urban crossover which is expected in 2026, while the next-gen Fiat Panda that is coming in 2024 might be even cheaper.
Note: The speculative illustration featured here is neither related to nor endorsed by Opel.
