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Date: March 18, 2025
Dacia has officially unveiled the second-generation Spring, cementing its position as one of Europe’s most affordable electric cars. Starting at €17,900 (roughly $20,800) in Italy and staying under €20,000 elsewhere in Europe before incentives, the new Spring brings a longer wheelbase, a more powerful electric motor, and up to 155 miles (250 km) of WLTP-rated range. The upgraded hatchback is now built in Slovenia instead of China, as Dacia pushes toward four all-electric models by decade’s end.
The timing is no accident. European Union regulations require automakers to cut fleet CO₂ emissions by 90% from 2021 levels by 2035, forcing the industry to accelerate EV adoption. While many manufacturers focus on premium electric SUVs, Dacia is doubling down on a no-frills formula: a compact, city-focused car with a price tag that puts EV ownership within reach of households that typically buy used gasoline cars.
Under the hood, the Spring uses a single 80-horsepower electric motor powered by a 27.5 kWh LFP battery pack. That battery chemistry—lithium iron phosphate—is cheaper, safer, and longer-lived than traditional NMC cells, though it offers lower energy density. The optional 50 kW DC fast charger can replenish the battery from 15% to 80% in 28 minutes, and 75% of previous owners primarily charged at home, so daily driving is easy.
Motor1 reports that the new Spring adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-view camera on some trims, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability for powering small electronics. The body has grown both longer and wider, giving it a more substantial stance without sacrificing the maneuverability that made the original a hit in dense European cities. Dacia’s own data shows previous generation owners averaged just 21 miles (34 km) per day, meaning the new range is more than adequate for typical urban commutes.
While Dacia does not sell cars in the United States, the Spring’s launch highlights a glaring gap in North America: the absence of a truly affordable new EV. The cheapest pure electric car currently sold in the U.S. is the Nissan Leaf (now discontinued for 2025) or the Chevy Bolt EV (production halted in 2023). Neither remains available new. The 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric starts around $32,000, and the Tesla Model 3 starts at $38,990—well above the Spring’s equivalent sub-$25,000 price point.
Automotive analyst Sam Jaffe of Cairn Energy Research told Green Car Reports that the lack of a sub-$30,000 EV in the U.S. “is a serious barrier to mass adoption. European buyers have the Spring, which proves you can build a profitable small EV at that price. American automakers seem unwilling to go that low without import tariffs.” He notes that the Biden administration’s new EV tax credits, now point-of-sale and transferable, can only help buyers if there are actually cars under $55,000 to buy.
Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) shows that fully electric cars accounted for 22.2% of new car sales across the EU, UK, and EFTA in the most recent full quarter. In the U.S., EV market share hovers around 8.5% (per Cox Automotive). One clear reason is the lack of cheap options: the average new EV transaction price in the U.S. remains above $55,000, while in Europe the Spring brings that average down significantly.
The biggest financial advantage of an EV is lower fuel and maintenance costs over time. Electricity averages about $0.14 per kWh in the U.S., equivalent to roughly $1.10 per gallon when considering ICE efficiency. EVs also skip oil changes, timing belts, and many exhaust-related repairs. A study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that EV drivers save $800 to $1,200 per year on fuel and maintenance combined compared to a comparable gasoline car.
But upfront price remains the top barrier. The Spring’s European price—equivalent to $20,000 (before incentives)—would be transformative if available in the U.S. With the federal $7,500 tax credit, that could drop to $12,500. No American automaker currently offers anything close. The Chevy Equinox EV starts at $34,995, and the Blazer EV at $48,995.
Motor1 notes that Dacia’s “core promise is an affordable electric car that focuses on what most buyers actually need.” That philosophy has produced a car that doesn’t try to wow with 400 miles of range or 0–60 in 3.5 seconds. Instead, it delivers enough range for the average commuter, enough space for two adults and groceries, and a price that undercuts the cheapest gasoline subcompact by thousands of dollars after incentives.
The new Spring will be assembled at Renault Group’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, moving production from a Chinese factory previously criticized for supply chain issues. The relocation also cushions Dacia against potential EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs—a real risk as Brussels investigates state subsidies to Chinese automakers.
Dacia is positioning the Spring as a mainstream, practical choice rather than a compliance car. New features like V2L and updated infotainment make it more livable, while the larger body improves rear legroom. The 80-hp motor is enough for city speeds, though Motor1 cautions that highway merging requires planning.
For U.S. consumers watching from across the Atlantic, the Spring offers a glimpse of what could be—or a reminder of what is missing. Several global automakers, including Volkswagen and Stellantis, have announced plans to launch low-cost EVs for global markets by 2027, but none have committed to a U.S. sub-$25,000 model yet. That leaves the Spring as, arguably, the most important affordable EV you can’t buy in America.
Bottom line: The 2025 Dacia Spring pushes the cost of electric driving lower than ever before in Europe. Its redesign proves that budget doesn’t have to mean basic, and that focusing on what buyers actually need—modest range, low price, low running costs—can create a genuinely mass-market EV. Until an American equivalent arrives, it remains a potent symbol of the global race toward accessible electrification.
