Michelin and Citroën revive the 2CV as an electric concept with a sensorless tire digital twin
Michelin and Citroën are reinterpreting the 2CV, the 1948 people's car, as a fully electric concept wearing a bespoke tire and Michelin's sensorless Touch Intelligence digital twin.
- 1948
- 0
- 3 liters per 100 km
- 60 km/h
What Happened
In 1948 the 2CV offered mobility freedom to millions of people, and eight decades later the car returns as a fully electric concept that reinterprets the original spirit. Michelin and Citroën present the revival as a continuation of the journey of two brands that, each in their own way, helped democratize mobility, and say they still share the same ambition of enabling as many people as possible to benefit from innovative, responsible and accessible mobility. Michelin's vision is of a tire that is safe, simple, desirable and connected, where technology enhances the driving experience without adding complexity.
To remain true to simplicity, accessibility and intuitive use while embracing the electric and connected era, Michelin is developing technologies aimed at real-world needs: driving safely, gaining peace of mind and controlling mobility costs. Its Touch Intelligence technology is described as the tire's universal digital twin; with no sensor embedded in the tire and relying only on data already available within the vehicle, it can estimate grip, wear, pressure, load and driving conditions in real time. Vehicles equipped with it can adapt their behavior and optimize certain driver-assistance systems, enhancing safety when conditions become more demanding. The technology also makes it easier to monitor tire condition, anticipate maintenance and avoid premature replacements, which Michelin says results in greater safety, controlled operating costs, a more relaxed driving experience and a positive environmental impact.
- Grip
- Wear
- Pressure
- Load
- Driving conditions
Michelin created a bespoke design for the concept tire that combines its Heritage logo with Citroën's iconic chevrons in a graphic expression it calls simple and elegant. The lettering, inspired by hand-drawn craftsmanship, is meant to evoke authenticity and the spirit of the original design, while the chevrons are woven into a pattern and texture treatment that gives the tire a strong visual identity. More than a technical component, the tire becomes a design object: a nod to the past that reinforces the vehicle's uniqueness and celebrates the shared history between Michelin and Citroën.
Michelin launches a National Survey on the People's Car to better understand the mobility expectations of the French public.
Those reflections help pave the way for the TPV project, short for Toute Petite Voiture, or Very Small Car.
The 2CV offers mobility freedom to millions of people.
The 2CV returns as a fully electric concept that reinterprets its original spirit.
“two farmers wearing clogs, fifty kilograms of potatoes, or a small barrel at 60 km/h while consuming just three liters of fuel per 100 kilometers”
Why this matters
The original 2CV gave mobility freedom to millions of people, and this revival ties that legacy to the electric and connected era. Michelin says its tire intelligence can make driving safer, keep operating costs under control and avoid premature tire replacement. It also extends a long Michelin-Citroën relationship built on democratizing mobility.
Terms in This Story
- Digital twin
- A virtual model of a physical object that is kept updated with data so its real-world state can be monitored and estimated.
- TPV (Toute Petite Voiture)
- French for "Very Small Car", the name of the project that led to the Citroën 2CV.
- Chevrons
- The double-chevron emblem used as Citroën's brand logo.
- Driver-assistance systems
- Electronic features that help a driver control a vehicle and reduce the risk of an accident.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.