Does Citroën use Toyota engines?
Yes. Citroën has used Toyota engines in the past, most notably through the TPCA joint venture that produced the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo, all of which relied on Toyota’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine.
This article outlines the history of that collaboration, what engines were shared, and how Citroën’s engine strategy has evolved in the Stellantis era. It also clarifies what this means for buyers considering modern Citroën models today.
Historical collaboration and the TPCA joint venture
In the early 2000s, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota formed a cross-brand collaboration to develop and manufacture a trio of city cars in the Czech Republic. The arrangement culminated in the TPCA (Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech) joint venture, which produced the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo at a single location. A defining feature of this program was the use of Toyota’s small 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine across the lineup, enabling cost-effective production and shared engineering resources.
What engines were used and where?
Under TPCA, the three-city cars shared the same engine family, centered on Toyota’s 1KR-FE 1.0-litre three-cylinder powerplant. This engine was produced for use in the C1/107/Aygo production line and helped keep each model affordable while delivering the expected performance for a compact urban car.
Key milestones of the TPCA partnership included the founding of the Kolín, Czech Republic, plant, cross-brand platform collaboration, and the deployment of Toyota's 1KR-FE engine across the C1, 107, and Aygo models. This arrangement demonstrated a high-profile example of cross-brand engine sharing between a European automaker and a Japanese manufacturer.
- Joint venture formed in the early 2000s to share small-car platforms and powertrains (TPCA).
- Manufacturing facility established in Kolín, Czech Republic.
- Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo used Toyota’s 1KR-FE 1.0-l three-cylinder engine.
- Collaboration enabled cost-efficient production and common engineering for the trio of city cars.
In summary, the TPCA collaboration produced a notable period when Citroën directly used Toyota engines in its small-car offering, illustrating a concrete instance of cross-brand engine sharing in practice.
Current engine strategy under Stellantis
Since the PSA group merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis, Citroën’s new models have relied on the group’s own engine families and electrified architectures. Toyota no longer provides engines for Citroën’s contemporary lineups, with Stellantis pursuing its PureTech petrol engines and hybrid/electric platforms across its brands.
- Citroën’s current vehicles primarily use Stellantis PureTech petrol engines and hybrid systems (including mild-hybrid and plug-in options) developed for the group’s e-CMP/PLATFORM architectures.
- Hybrid and electric variants are deployed on relevant models, leveraging shared electrification tech within Stellantis.
- There are no contemporary Citroën models that rely on Toyota-sourced engines as a standard powertrain.
Before listing the main points, note the shift in powertrain strategy that accompanies the Stellantis era.
In short, today’s Citroën lineup uses internal Stellantis powertrain technology rather than Toyota engines, reflecting the broader corporate integration under Stellantis and the shift away from the legacy TPCA engine-sharing arrangement.
Legacy versus current practice: what buyers should know
For buyers considering used cars from the Citroën lineup, the legacy TPCA-era C1, 107, and Aygo can still be found with Toyota’s 1KR-FE engine, provided they are post-2005 models within the TPCA lineage. For new purchases, however, Citroën models are powered by Stellantis-developed engines and electrified drivetrains, not Toyota’s gasoline engines.
Implications for reliability, parts, and resale
The Toyota-sourced engines from the TPCA era are generally noted for simplicity and reliability in city-car duty cycles. Parts availability depends on the vehicle’s age and the market, but many TPCA-era components are still obtainable through TPCA decommissioning channels or specialist suppliers. In contrast, current Citroën models benefit from Stellantis’ ongoing engine development, with emphasis on efficiency, electrification, and multi-brand compatibility.
For consumers, this means that a Citroën purchased new today will not have Toyota engines, but a very real example of Toyota powertrains exists in the used-market through the TPCA-era C1/107/Aygo generation.
Summary
Citroën has historically used Toyota engines, most prominently through the TPCA joint venture that produced the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo with Toyota’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. In the Stellantis era, Citroën’s new models rely on Stellantis-engine families (PureTech and electrified platforms), and Toyota engines are not used in current Citroën lineups. The legacy TPCA collaboration remains a notable chapter in cross-brand engine sharing and urban-car history.
Which Citroën has a Toyota engine?
The Citroën C1 is a city car marketed by Citroën from June 2005 to January 2022, originally developed as part of the B-Zero project by PSA Peugeot Citroën in a joint venture with Toyota, with two generations produced.
Who makes Citroën engines?
PSA PowerTrain (formerly Peugeot Citroën Moteurs)
PSA PowerTrain is a manufacturer of petrol and diesel engines for a range of companies including BMW, Ford, Jaguar, and Land Rover. It was founded by Peugeot in 1898 in Lille and later named Compagnie Lilloise de Moteurs (CLM).
Is Citroën made by Toyota?
Citroën (French pronunciation: [sitʁɔɛn]) is a French automobile company. The "Automobiles Citroën" manufacturing company was founded on 4 June 1919 by André Citroën. Citroën has been owned by Stellantis since 2021 and previously was part of the PSA Group after Peugeot acquired 89.95% share in 1976.
What European car has a Toyota engine?
Lotus Emira (2022 - present)
Buyers can spec it with a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 from Toyota, an engine Lotus has relied on since the Evora. Output ranges from 400 to 416 horsepower paired with either a six-speed manual or an automatic.
