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1940 - 1949

2 cv

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2 CV : 1948-1990
production : 3.868.634



The Company in 1948

  • A cutting-shop comes into operation outside Paris at a plant in Asnières, purchased from Automobiles Laffly.

  • The Levallois plant bought by Citroën in 1929 becomes the home of the 2CV. It is the only Citroën facility to contain both a body shop and a large mechanical assembly area.

  • Annual production : 42 776 vehicles.

The models in 1948

Type H

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Type H : 1948-1982
production : 490.165

  • At the Paris Motor Show in October, the 2CV astonishes visitors with its novel looks, ingenious design, economy and potential for varied applications. The 2CV expresses a new philosophy of individual transport. The newly designed 375 cm3 engine is an air-cooled flat-twin developing 9 bhp SAE at 3,500 rpm. For the first time, Citroën fits a 4-speed gearbox as standard. The 2CV travels at 65 km/h and consumes 4.5 litres/100 km. Between October 1949 and 27 July 1990, 3,872,583 examples of the 2CV and its light utility versions are built.

  • June sees the launch of the H, a utility vehicle with a payload of 1,200 kg. The H offers a new structural concept, a platform chassis with a superstructure of corrugated steel. The 1,911 cm3 engine develops 50 bhp at 3,800 rpm. Rated 11 bhp, the H travels at 78 km/h and consumes 13 litres/100 km. Between June 1948 and December 1981, over 490,000 examples of the H are built.

  • One of Citroën's most popular utility vehicles - the 45 UADI bus - is also launched at this time. Eight hundred examples are built with a 6-cylinder diesel engine.


In the news in 1948


  • The Organization for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) is created in Paris.
  • The People's Democracy ascends to power in Czechoslovakia. The USSR blockades Berlin and the allies supply the city by airlift.
  • Gandhi is assassinated. Great Britain leaves India.
  • J.H. Chase writes No Orchids for Miss Blandish and Hervé Bazin Vipère au Poing.