Citroen DS brand to be pure-electric by 2024

DS Automobiles has announced that it is giving up on petrol- and diesel-powered cars and will only launch pure-electric vehicles from 2024.

Confirming the decision to end production of internal combustion vehicles by 2024, the French premium brand's move follows Jaguar's similar declaration to become a zero-emissions brand by 2025.

Currently the Stellantis-owned DS brand only offers just one pure-electric car – the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense that shares its platform, 100kW electric motor and 50kWh battery with both the Peugeot e-208, or e-2008, plus other models like the Opel Corsa-e.

The DS 4 and bigger DS 9, meanwhile, come with turbocharged petrol or diesel engines or plug-in hybrid powertrains.

It's thought the entire DS range could be pensioned off and replaced by new models based on the Stellantis group's three new STLA platforms that have been created for pure-electric models.

The DS brand is the first car-maker within Stellantis to switch to a full line-up of EVs. Next will be Opel in 2028 followed shortly after by Fiat in 2030.

The news that DS will become an EV-only car-maker is evidence of Stellantis pressing fast-forward on its EV strategy that is set to see the fourth-largest global car-maker launch 11 pure-electric cars and 10 plug-in hybrids in the next two years.

Moving to become a full pure-electric brand in 2024 could scuttle any possible plans to relaunch DS Down Under.

Originally created as a premium offshoot of Citroen back in 2009, DS became a full-blown standalone brand in 2015 but only lasted in Australia until 2017, when the French brand was culled due to poor sales.