E-car hipster: Dacia plans electric car for less than 10,000 euros

With the Hipster concept study, Dacia shows what an electrical cheap model of the near future could look like. European mobility at an entry price of less than 10,000 euros could make the Renault branch more interesting than micromobile such as Opel Rocks, Fiat Topolino or Citroën Ami.

The increasing electrification and the desire of customers for more and more comfort in the car threaten to turn off the juice for the A segment. A lot of technology and always new guidelines make the vehicles expensive than ever, and so it can hardly be earned in the once so popular entry league – especially not with plugs. Dacia wants to change that with its electric hipster. The gap, which is under 10,000 euros in the class, has so far been insufficiently filled by a few micromobiles that are rather covered motor scooters and are at least suitable for the overcrowded inner city at 45 km/h.

In Japan, the tiny kei-cars-very tax-favored-have been a sales racer for urban mobility since the 1950s. Since 1998, the law has set a maximum vehicle length of 3.4 meters and a displacement of less than 660 cc. The market share of this segment fluctuated between 30 and 40 percent of new registrations in the country for a long time. In those years in which the government reduced tax incentives, the dominance of the Kei-cars lost a little importance, but in 2024 their market share was again 38 percent and they dominated the top 10 sales figures. Suzuki was a market leader in this segment last year with 590,000 approvals of 1.5 million. Now in Europe it also voices that similarly like the Kei category in Europe boost sales of electric vehicles and could breathe life into the former A segment with models such as Citroën C1 or VW Up.

When it comes to affordable vehicles, Dacia in Europe is considered a reference brand in Europe through Logan, Sandero and the electric jump. Now the French have dreamed of what a new entry -level model with an electric drive could look like. The study by the Dacia Hipster offers affordable mobility and promises to halve the CO₂ footprint compared to the electric vehicles currently available on the market. Romain Gauvin, Head of Advanced Design and Exterior Design at Dacia says: “This is the most typical Dacia project I have ever worked on. It has the same social meaning as the Logan 20 years ago. And it is about inventing something that does not yet exist today.”

In a three -meter long (1.52 m high and 1.55 m wide) cabin, the hipster offers space for four adults and a tiny trunk of 70 liters. If the two front seats alone are used, up to 500 liters are available. At 800 kilograms, the empty weight is significantly below the jump. However, even in warm temperatures, a battery of around ten kWh would only enable ranges of manageable 100 kilometers.

The outer design can be summarized as cubes on wheels without overhang with slim headlights in the very horizontal front, which give it a serious but friendly look. It has a single body color and only three painted parts: the front of the vehicle and the side door entry elements. The outer door handle was replaced by a strap that is lighter and cheaper, but still effective. At the rear, the tailgate covers the entire width of the body of the Hipster Concept and can be opened in two parts. The design of the taillights is the result of a typical Dacia solution: Since they are positioned behind the tailgate, you do not need your own glass cover.

In the interior, vertical windows and the windshield enable optimal use of space, while access to the rear seats is facilitated through the wide door opening and the passable passenger seat. The front seats merge into a bench, a simple feature that is once again reminiscent of the legendary, popular cars of the past, while the broken headrests again contribute to weight reduction. Faucet and interior cladding are emphasized and can be customized with individual modules such as beverage owners, armrests or light elements from the accessories program. Further fastening points include smartphones or cup holders.