Blame Emily in Paris, blame our long-standing obsession with all things French, but the Parisian way of life has inspired everything from our wardrobe (hello Sézane!) to choice of motors. New on our radar is DS Automobiles – a car brand designed and crafted in Paris. They recently overtook Jaguar and Lexus in Europe so must be doing something right.
DS Automobiles is a French luxury vehicle marque which was first introduced in 2009. Formerly part of Citroën, DS has been a standalone brand since 2015 - the name, DS Automobiles, inspired by the classic 1995 Citroen DS 19. From fully-fledged electric (there’s the DS 3 E-Tense and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense – an electric compact SUV) to plug-in hybrid models, it aims to be a fully 100% electric brand by 2024.
Having worked as the director of the DS design team for over nine years, Thierry Metroz has overseen many of the changes at DS Automobiles, including its unique design practices from ‘pearl’ stitching to hand-finished upholstery. The ambition is simple – embody the luxury savoir-faire that France is renowned for within the mobility sector.
‘We have a dream of being the Louis Vuitton of the mobility industry, and that starts with our luxury savoir-faire,’ he said in a recent interview. ‘Since the start of the company we have formed relationships with all the French luxury houses like Chanel, Lesage, Lemarié and we have contacts with Vuitton and Hermes, and this allows us to enrich our creativity and exchange with them about new materials, practices.’