Controversy is likely to abound once again at Rétromobile as DS Automobiles is set to take advantage of the 2026 show, held in Paris from January 28 to February 1, to build brand recognition by displaying four iconic cars built specifically for French government presidential use.
Last year at Rétromobile, DS Automobiles celebrated the 70th anniversary of the DS by showcasing multiple classic Citroën DS models without any mention of the Citroën name. This raised more than a few eyebrows.
This year, three of the four vehicles on display will be Citroëns, and it is expected that their Citroën heritage will be muted as the luxury aspect of the brand has been corporately transferred to DS Automobiles, marketed as the premium brand of the two within the Stellantis group.
The oldest Citroën to be shown will be the 1965 DS21 used by General de Gaulle. This sedan, equipped with pennant holders, rear side sun visors, and a front document holder, was given in 1967 to the head of the dairy cooperative in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, the village where the President’s private residence was located. It remained in the same family for over forty years, changing hands in 2021 and again in 2023, before undergoing a complete two-year restoration.
Also featured will be the 1968 Presidential DS21 bodied by Henri Chapron. At 6.53 meters in length, with a 3.78-meter wheelbase, it was specifically designed to surpass U.S. President Lyndon Johnson’s limousine in size. Painted in two shades of grey, it features a unique front and rear end, a rounded interior partition window, and a jump seat allowing for a third passenger in the rear.
One of the two presidential Citroën SMs from 1972, also built by Chapron and inaugurated by Georges Pompidou during an official visit by Queen Elizabeth II of England, will be on display. This four-door convertible version, 5.60 m long and weighing 1,780 kg, is over 300 kg heavier than the production SM coupe. It retains its Maserati 170 hp V6 engine, but the gearbox has been modified for low-speed travel in parades.
The presidential SM was subsequently used by Presidents Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, François Mitterrand, and Jacques Chirac.
The one DS Automobiles car to be shown is the DS N°8 Presidentialle — the first EV-built limousine for that purpose. Emmanuel Macron inaugurated it during the commemorations of May 8, 2025. This SUV with coupe styling is distinguished by its “Sapphire Blue” paint, its canvas sunroof, an illuminated blue-white-red grille, and an interior crafted with high-end artisanal trim.
Alongside these presidential cars, DS Automobiles will be offering a photographic exhibition dedicated to presidential Citroëns, as well as a selection of related merchandise. It will be interesting to see if, or how, they acknowledge the Citroën name in that.