Dacia has brought a new Spring to the 2026 Paris Motor Show. And there’s one figure that matters more than anything else. The second-generation electric car will start below €18,000 in Europe.
That’s an interesting price at a time when many electric cars still cost considerably more than their petrol-powered alternatives.
The Spring has always been a small, relatively simple car. It was never designed to impress buyers with enormous screens or sports-car acceleration. Its job was to make electric driving affordable.
Dacia wants the new model to continue that approach.
There is one important difference, though. The second-generation Spring will be manufactured in Europe. That’s a significant change for a model previously associated with production in China.
European production could become an advantage as manufacturers face increasing pressure over import costs and competition from Chinese electric brands.
But the real attraction remains the price.
A car costing less than €18,000 could appeal to buyers who mostly drive around town. School runs, commuting and shopping trips rarely require a large battery or hundreds of kilometres of range.
Of course, affordability comes with compromises.
Dacia hasn’t detailed every specification in its Paris Motor Show announcement. Battery capacity, charging performance and equipment levels will be important when comparing the Spring with other small electric cars.
The starting price also deserves attention. Entry-level versions often have fewer features than the models shown at motor shows.
Buyers will need to see what the basic Spring actually includes before deciding whether it represents a good deal. Interestingly, Dacia isn’t treating the new Spring as an isolated project.
The company says it will introduce a wider family of electric vehicles by 2030. That suggests the small hatchback is becoming the starting point for a much larger electric range.
The brand also presented the new Striker crossover in Paris. It will cost less than €25,000 and offer several powertrain choices, including hybrid and LPG versions.
That gives Dacia two rather different approaches to affordable motoring.
The Spring targets drivers ready to move entirely to electric power. The Striker offers more flexibility for customers who aren’t interested in relying on charging stations.
For the moment, the Spring has the clearer price advantage.
Whether it becomes a strong seller will depend on the final specifications and how much equipment Dacia includes at the advertised starting price.
But an electric car built in Europe for less than €18,000 is certainly worth watching.
