Citroën Ami (electric vehicle)

The French carmaker Citroën debuted the Ami One, a concept car, at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a26410495/citroen-ami-one-concept-geneva/|title=The Citroën Ami One Concept is a tiny city car that doesn't require a license|first=Daniel|last=Golson|date=21 February 2019|access-date=2 August 2024|magazine=Car and Driver}}{{cite news | last=Fidler | first=Matt | title=Geneva goes electric: 2019 Motor Show – in pictures | newspaper=The Guardian | date=5 March 2019 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gallery/2019/mar/05/geneva-goes-electric-2019-motor-show-in-pictures | access-date=2 August 2024}} It is named after the model produced between 1961 and 1978.{{cite web | last=Szymkowski | first=Sean | title=You can lease this adorable Citroen EV for $22 a month and let your 14-year-old drive | website=CNET | date=27 February 2020 | url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/citroen-ev-ami-lease-cost-young-drive/ | access-date=2 August 2024}} The doors are almost identical, with the driver's door being front-hinged and the passenger's door rear-hinged. This design choice was made to reduce costs by minimising the number of unique parts. The vehicle's front and rear bumpers are also made from the same components. A smartphone powers the information screen and provides audio to the car through the cylindrical Bluetooth speaker located to the right of the steering column. According to Jean-Arthur Madeleine, the Ami's interior designer, "the way to make it affordable was to avoid the redundancy of technology{{nbsp}}[...] everything is based on the idea that instead of having a lot of displays, everything is coming from your smartphone".{{cite magazine| last=Overland | first=Colin | title=Citroen Ami One concept: dinky concept is mobility problem solver | magazine=Car | date=6 March 2019 | url=https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/citroen/ami-one/ | access-date=2 August 2024}}

The production version of the Ami was unveiled in February 2020.{{cite web | last=Porter | first=Jon | title=Citroën's tiny Ami electric car can be driven by 14-year olds for $22 a month | website=The Verge | date=February 28, 2020 | url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/28/21157346/citroen-ami-electric-car-light-quadricycle-two-seater-rental-buy-online | access-date=August 2, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Valdes-Dapena | first=Peter | title=This tiny electric car looks like a washing machine and costs just $6,600 | website=CNN Business | date=28 February 2020 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/28/cars/citroen-ami-cheap-electric-car/index.html | access-date=2 August 2024}} Pierre Leclercq, the exterior designer of the Ami, revealed that the production vehicle and the concept car were developed simultaneously. He also noted that the Ami's design was not intended to be carried over into Citroën's wider model line.{{cite web | last=Burgess | first=Rachel | title=Citroen UK boss: 90% chance of imminent Ami UK launch | website=Autocar | date=30 June 2021 | url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/citroen-uk-boss-90-chance-imminent-ami-uk-launch | access-date=2 August 2024}} Manufacture of the Ami, which began in June 2020,{{cite web | last=Burns | first=Matt | title=Citroën introduces a two-seat EV that costs €19.99 a month | website=TechCrunch | date=27 February 2020 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/27/citroen-introduces-a-two-seat-ev-that-costs-e19-99-a-month/ | access-date=2 August 2024}} occurs at the facility in Kenitra, Morocco.{{sfn | Hayes | 2021 | page=166}}

It is a light motor quadricycle which can be driven in France without a license by people born before 1988 or by those older than 14 who have an AM license (EEA name)–formerly Road Safety Certificate (BSR) (national name). As a quadricycle it is limited to {{cvt|45|km/h}}.

The Ami can be used for carsharing in the Free2Move network of Groupe PSA, rented or purchased, on the internet or in stores Fnac and Darty with which Citroën has concluded a partnership for the exhibition, sale or rental of the vehicle{{cite web|title=Citroën Ami (2020) : le quadricyle sans permis à petit prix|language=fr|url=https://www.autoplus.fr/citroen/ami/actualite/Citroen-Ami-Electrique-Quadricycle-Prix-1546877.html|first=Jean-Philippe|last=Peden|date=27 February 2020|website=Auto Plus}} from 30 March 2020. The vehicle can be picked up at a store, a Citroën dealership or delivered at home.{{cite web|title=Citroën AMI : la révolution de la mobilité électrique est-elle là ?|language=fr|url=https://www.turbo.fr/actualite-automobile/citroen-ami-la-revolution-de-la-mobilite-electrique-est-elle-la-158242|first=Hugo|last=Quintal|date=27 February 2020| website=Turbo}}

In June 2022, Citroën launched the My Ami Buggy, a limited edition (50) inspired by the My Ami Buggy concept.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2022/06/citroen-my-ami-buggy-sells-out-in-just-18-minutes/|title=Citroën My Ami Buggy Sells Out In Just 18 Minutes|date=22 June 2022|website=Carscoops}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2022/12/citroen-to-build-another-1000-ami-buggies-after-original-50-sold-in-18-minutes/|title=Citroën To Build Another 1,000 Ami Buggies After Original 50 Sold In 18 Minutes|date=22 December 2022|website=Carscoops}}

In May 2023, 1000 second generation Ami Buggy were produced for sale in Europe, Turkey and Morocco.{{Cite web |title=Citroen My Ami Buggy 2 comes to UK beachsides in 2023 |url=https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/citroen/ami/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=CAR Magazine |language=en}}

In November 2023, the Ami Pop trim was released, which includes four alloy-look wheel trims, a black graphic strip under the windshield, black front and rear bumper sections, a rear spoiler and a set of door and quarter panels graphics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/11/sporty-citroen-ami-pop-gets-a-new-nose-and-graphics-but-theres-nothing-sporty-about-28-mph/|title='Sporty' Citroen Ami Pop Gets New Nose And Graphics, But There's Nothing Sporty About 28 MPH|first=Chris|last=Chilton|date=7 November 2023|website=Carscoops}}

In May 2024, the Ami was refreshed with a new color (Night Sepia), as well as other small changes, such as the drive select buttons being moved to the dashboard below the hazards indicator and phone mount.

File:Citroen Ami (2020) Auto Zuerich 2021 IMG 0029.jpg|Rear View

File:Citroen Ami Night Sepia.jpg|Side View Night Sepia

File:Citroën My Ami Buggy Concept 01.jpg|Citroën My Ami Buggy Concept

File:Citroen-Ami-Interiors.JPG|Interior

In August 2021, Opel presented the Opel Rocks-e, an identical version of the vehicle for Germany only.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2021/08/opel-rocks-e-is-a-rebadged-version-of-the-tiny-citroen-ami-ev/|title=Opel Rocks-e Is A Rebadged Version Of The Tiny Citroën Ami EV|first=Brad|last=Anderson|date=25 August 2021|website=Carscoops}} It went on sale in November 2021.{{cite web|first=Thomas|last=Harloff |url=https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/elektroauto/opel-rocks-e-kleinstwagen-elektroantrieb/ |title=Opel Rocks-E - Elektrokleinstwagen ab 7.990 Euro: Summ, summ, summ - Opel summ herum! |language=de |work=auto-motor-und-sport.de |date=2021-11-02 |access-date=2021-11-02}} From 2023, it was renamed Opel Rocks Electric, in line with Opel's phasing out of the "-e" suffix on electric models.{{plainlist|

• {{Cite web |last= |title=Opel Rocks-e |url=https://www.opel.de/fahrzeuge/rocks-e/uebersicht.html |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119123008/https://www.opel.de/fahrzeuge/rocks-electric/uebersicht.html |archive-date=2023-01-19 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Opel Deutschland |language=de}}
• {{Cite web |last= |title=Opel Rocks Electric |url=https://www.opel.de/fahrzeuge/rocks-electric/uebersicht.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119123008/https://www.opel.de/fahrzeuge/rocks-electric/uebersicht.html |archive-date=2023-01-19 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Opel Deutschland |language=de}}

}}

From 2022, the Opel Rocks Electric is offered on the Dutch market as well, where it is marketed with the Citroën model.{{cite web |title=Nieuwe Rocks Electric Kargo |url=https://www.opel.nl/bedrijfswagens/rocks-kargo-electric/overzicht.html |website=Opel}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-28 |title=Opel Rocks-e is coming to the Netherlands |url=http://techzle.com/opel-rocks-e-is-coming-to-the-netherlands |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Techzle |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Citroën AMI 100% elektrisch rijden vanaf 16 jaar |url=https://citroenvanbeek.nl/citroen-modellen/citroen-ami/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Citroën Van Beek |language=nl}}

File:Opel Rocks-e 1X7A7069.jpg|Opel Rocks-e

File:Opel Rocks-e 1X7A6035.jpg|Rear view

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The Fiat Topolino is a rebadged version of the Citroën Ami and Opel Rocks.{{Cite web|url=https://insideevs.com/news/675332/2023-fiat-topolino-ev-unveiled-two-flavors-starts-10770-usd/|title=2023 Fiat Topolino EV Unveiled In Two Flavors, Starts At $10,770|date=July 5, 2023|website=InsideEVs}} It is the only vehicle of the three that has a different front back and side design. On the front it resembles the design of the 1957 to 1975 Fiat 500, and on the back it features vertical taillights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/07/fiat-topolino-offers-47-miles-of-range-and-a-top-speed-of-28-mph-to-drivers-as-young-as-14/|title=Fiat Topolino Offers 47 Miles Of Range And A Top Speed Of 28 MPH To Drivers As Young As 14|first=Sebastien|last=Bell|date=4 July 2023|website=Carscoops}} The Dolcevita version features a canvas roof and ropes in place of doors.

File:Fiat topolino front (resized).jpg|Fiat Topolino

File:Fiat topolino rear.jpg|Rear view

To save costs, the body is completely symmetrical; not only left-right symmetrical, but also front-rear symmetrical, except for the doors and the roof. The doors open in opposite directions, with the driver having a suicide door while the passenger door opens conventionally, allowing the same panels to be used. There are no other doors, making the storage spaces accessible only from the two side doors. All versions are left-hand drive, even those intended for use in the otherwise right-hand drive UK.

The vehicle measures {{cvt|2.41|m}} in length, {{cvt|1.39|m}} (excluding mirrors) in width and {{cvt|1.52|m}} in height. Its total weight including battery is {{cvt|485|kg|lb|0}}.{{cite web |author=Sagar|url=https://www.autodevot.com/2020/03/citroen-ami-ev-for-everyone/|title=Citroën AMI is for everyone, even for 14-year-olds|website=Autodevot |date=2 March 2020 |access-date=2 March 2020}}

The quadricycle is equipped with a 6 kW electric motor operating at 48 V.{{cite web|title=Citroën Ami, un minimum automobile sans permis|language=fr|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/automobile/citroen-ami-un-minimum-automobile-sans-permis-20200227|first=Sylvain|last=Reisser|date=27 February 2020|website=Le Figaro }} It accepts a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 5.5 kWh, rechargeable to 80% in three hours on a 230 V household outlet, giving it a maximum range of {{cvt|75|km}} WMTC.{{cite web|title=Citroën lance une petite voiture électrique à 6900 euros, l'Ami|language=fr|url=https://auto.bfmtv.com/actualite/citroen-lance-une-petite-voiture-electrique-a-6900-euros-l-ami-1865632.html|first=Pauline|last=Ducamp|date=27 February 2020|website=BFM Business}}

In May 2024, Italian customs blocked a shipment of 134 Fiat Topolinos at the port of Livorno, Tuscany, for having Italian flag stickers on the doors, despite being manufactured in Kenitra, Morocco. An investigation was launched against Stellantis, Italy deeming the stickers to be a violation of the 2004 financial law, which defines as illegal "the marketing of products bearing false and misleading indications of provenance or origin". A Stellantis representative said that the company had "operated in full compliance with the rules, transparently communicating the Topolino's country of production, without any intention of misleading consumers" and that "the sticker in question was intended solely to indicate the product's entrepreneurial origin." Stellantis agreed to remove the stickers in order to resolve the situation.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-18 |title=Sequestrate le Fiat Topolino al porto di Livorno: "Non sono italiane" |url=https://www.repubblica.it/economia/2024/05/18/news/sequestro_fiat_topolino_porto_livorno_made_in_italy-423030267/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book | last=Hayes | first=Russell | title=The Big Book of Tiny Cars | publisher=Motorbooks International | date=2021 | isbn=978-0-7603-7062-9}}

• [https://www.citroen.co.uk/ami Official website] (United Kingdom)

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Category:Cars introduced in 2020

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