DS Automobiles has just unveiled their new flagship, the fully electric N°8 fastback crossover, and it’s clear they’re trying (perhaps a bit too hard) to grab attention. During the official presentation, the French automaker had the gall—er, the cheek—to throw a little jab at the competition, recreating a scene from the folk tale Cinderella to make their point. And what’s that point, you ask? Well, the DS N°8 wants to be the new luxury carriage for those who fancy a bit of magic in their drive; no pumpkins required.

More: DS No8 Breaks Cover As The New French Electric Flagship

The N°8 was revealed by none other than Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat, Abarth, and DS Automobiles, who made a rather grandoise statement by calling the N°8 a “modern-day carriage.” This, of course, was meant to evoke the heritage of DS, a brand that’s barely old enough to legally drink in some countries. A bit of a stretch, sure, but it sets the stage for what was to follow.

In a rather Cinderella-esque moment at the end of the video, Francois parks the N°8 between an Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron and a BMW i4, both of which were conveniently de-badged, but we got the message loud and clear. To top it off, he delivered a final punchline:

“Well, I’m convinced that if Cinderella were written in 2025, she would undoubtedly ride in a N°8. And allow me to say, by next summer, when N°8 is launched, it might just be like the fairy tale: the 12 strokes of midnight may very well sound for the competition’s luxurious carriages.”

At this point, the Audi and BMW are transformed nto pumpkins, while the DS N°8 remains unscathed, because, of course, it’s the star of the show. For the uninitiated, Cinderella’s fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a golden carriage to get her to the ball, only to have the magic wear off at midnight. You know, just in case you hadn’t picked up on the metaphor.

Now, setting aside the cheeky marketing, DS Automobiles has had a bit of a rough ride since its split from Citroen in 2014. Competing with more established brands in both sales and brand recognition has proven tricky.

Positioned as one of Stellantis’s premium brands alongside Lancia and Alfa Romeo but below Maserati, DS doesn’t have the decades of heritage that BMW or Mercedes-Benz can rely on. Instead, it shares its underpinnings with other Stellantis models, while attempting to carve out its own niche with quirky French styling, more upscale interiors, and a slightly more refined chassis setup. Think of DS like Genesis, but focused more on the lower segments—if that makes sense. And that’s the approach they’ve taken with the N°8, which is designed to challenge the sedans and coupe-SUVs in Europe’s premium midsize segment.

More: How Would You Save Stellantis?

Francois was quick to highlight that the 4.82-meter-long (189.8-inch) N°8 combines the elevated driving position of an SUV with the elegance and class of a grand sedan. It also boasts the longest range in its segment with up to 750 km (466 miles) on a single charge.

In the video, the CEO went on at length about the interior, claiming it offers “extreme comfort, beauty, silence, and refinement.” He also highlighted that the N°8’s seats provide a spa-like experience, complete with massaging, ventilating, and heating functions, plus, a neck warmer for good measure.

But, as with all things that sound too good to be true, it remains to be seen whether buyers will shell out for this French luxury crossover when they can just as easily reach for a more traditional choice from the likes of BMW, Audi, or Mercedes-Benz.

DS Automobiles

Electric vehicles may be gaining popularity worldwide, but the path to mass adoption remains challenging. In Europe, where EV incentives have historically fueled sales, several countries are planning to scale back or overhaul their subsidy programs in 2025, a shift that could hinder growth in one of the key markets for electrification.

France is leading the charge with some of the most significant changes. As part of its 2025 national budget, the government is slashing its EV subsidy program’s budget from €1.5 billion to €1 billion. Currently, French buyers can receive between €4,000 (around $4,200 at current exchange rates) and €7,000 ($7,300) in subsidies for EVs priced under €47,500 ($49,900). In 2025, those subsidies will be cut nearly in half, dropping to between €2,000 ($2,100) and €4,000 (~$4,200).

Leasing Scheme Changes Hit Low-Income Families

The country is also dialing back its innovative EV leasing program. This scheme, which allows low-income households to lease a small EV for €100 ($105) per month or a larger family electric car for €150 ($157) per month, proved so popular that it had to be paused just two months after launching due to overwhelming demand. In 2024, the program received €650 million ($682 million) in funding, but next year, the budget will be slashed to €300 million ($315 million), according to Rho Motion.

Read: EV Sales Drop 10.8% In EU As Buyers Flock To Hybrids

Meanwhile, Spain is making changes to its EV incentive scheme, which has had a €1.55 billion ($1.62 billion) budget. Buyers currently receive up to €7,000 ($7,300) for electric cars, €9,000 ($9,400) for commercial EVs, and additional subsidies for motorcycles and scooters. Starting next year, Spain will introduce direct payments for these incentives, meaning customers will no longer face delays of up to two years to access their subsidies. While this change will streamline the process, details on the program’s overall budget and scope remain under wraps.

Subsidy Cuts Already Hitting Germany Hard

The ripple effects of cutting EV incentives are already being felt. Germany, one of Europe’s largest EV markets, experienced a steep decline in sales after its government slashed subsidies in December 2023. EV sales in the country plummeted 69% in August compared to the previous year, following drops of 37% in July and 16% in June.

The same report from Rho Motion notes that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are still, on average, 75% more expensive than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. Subsidies and tax incentives remain critical tools for driving EV adoption and making them accessible to more consumers.

As Europe scales back financial support for EVs, the industry may face an uphill battle to maintain its current momentum.

Renault killed the Twizy off in September 2023 but it hasn’t given up on its quirky tandem two-seater. The microcar has been reborn as the Mobilize Duo, this time with a much greater emphasis on refinement, as well as the addition of a Bento cargo van spinoff.

Mobilize is a new Renault company that focuses on mobility services like car sharing and subscriptions, and the Duo/Bento models, debuting at this month’s Paris Motor show, are production versions of a pair of Mobilize concepts launched at the same event two years ago.

Related: Mobilize Duo And Bento Are Renault Group’s New Subscription-Based Urban EVs

Looking like a more macho Twizy, the Duo features Lamborghini-style scissor doors with built-in flip-up windows for better weather protection, and there’s a greater emphasis on car-like gadgets this time around. A heated seat, air conditioning, and Bluetooth are part of the package, as is an airbag, something missing from the Duo’s Citroen Ami rival because cars like this are homologated as quadricycles in Europe and exempt from some safety demands.

But all quadricycles are not created equal. Some (L6e) can be driven in certain European countries by 14-year-olds and those not holding a car license but must be limited to 8 hp (8 PS / 6 kW) and 28 mph (45 kmh). Others (L7e) are designed for licensed motorcycle riders and car drivers and allowed to pump out 21 hp (21 PS / 16 kW) and run to 50 mph (80 kmh), so Mobilize is building two different Duos to suit each set of regs.

How much power the motor pinched from the Renault Austral hybrid makes in the punchier Duo hasn’t been confirmed, but Renault says the 10.3 kWh NMC battery is rated at 100 miles (161 km) of range and should still be good for 62 miles (100 km) in cold weather. Topping it up from 20-80 percent takes 3 hr 50 mins via an AC charger and 25 mins less when hooked up to a DC outlet.

The Duo’s tiny 2,430 mm-long (95.7 inches) chassis measures just 1,300 mm (51.2 inches) across and has a turning circle of only 6.8 m (268 inches), making it perfect for carving through and parking in cities. Mobilize says it consists of one-fifth the number of parts that go into a regular car, and that 40 percent of the Duo’s components are recycled.

French prices start at €9,090 ($9,950) for the slowest version, the Duo 45 Neo, or you can drop €2,090 ($2,290) and pay just €29 ($32) per month for 37 months. The speedier Duo 80 Pro is €10,700 ($11,700) and the more luxurious Duo 80 Evo is €11,600 ($12,690).

But sure to be piquing the interest of delivery drivers and small businesses around Europe is the Bento van, which swaps the back seat for a cargo box and costs €10,000 ($10,940), excluding tax. The 649-liter (22.9 cu-ft) box adds 110 mm (4.3 inches) to the length and cuts the range to 93 miles (149 km), but the 60 percent bigger load area and its more conventional placement give it a major advantage over Citroen’s Ami Cargo.